--- title: How do exercise, diet and weight affect menstrual problems? | Niyora description: Lack of exercise and poor diet are linked to more menstrual symptoms, and higher weight is linked to both PMS and period pain. The evidence is moderate but ca url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/impact-of-dietary-and-lifestyle-choices-on-menstrual-patterns-in-medical-2019/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How do exercise, diet and weight affect menstrual problems? Cohort study, 2019 # How do exercise, diet and weight affect menstrual problems? Lack of exercise and poor diet are linked to more menstrual symptoms, and higher weight is linked to both PMS and period pain. The evidence is moderate but cannot prove these cause the symptoms. Moderate study design 255 female medical students in India with no known medical problems ## What they did Cross-sectional survey of 255 female medical students at one college in India during the academic year 2018-2019, assessing their body weight, diet, physical activity and menstrual symptoms. ## What they found 192 of 255 students (75%) reported PMS, 146 (57%) reported dysmenorrhoea (period pain), and 97 (38%) reported irregular cycles. Lack of physical activity significantly increased risk of both PMS and dysmenorrhoea (p<0.0001). Poor dietary patterns significantly increased risk of dysmenorrhoea (p<0.0001). Higher BMI was significantly associated with both PMS and dysmenorrhoea (p<0.05). ## What it means for you Regular exercise and healthy diet patterns may help prevent menstrual symptoms. However, this cross-sectional study cannot prove that exercise and diet cause better menstrual health, only that they are associated. Results may not apply outside this specific group of medical students. 255 medical students surveyed 75% had premenstrual syndrome 57% had period pain ## About the study Original title Impact of dietary and lifestyle choices on menstrual patterns in medical students Authors U. Sreelakshmi, V. Tushara Bindu, T. Subhashini et al. Journal International Journal of Reproduction Contraception Obstetrics and Gynecology Year 2019 Study design Cohort study Participants 255 What was tested None. Observational study of natural lifestyle variation. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20190980](https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20190980) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 What menstrual and premenstrual problems do girls with intellectual disability experience? Survey study, 2026 How do pre-menstrual symptoms affect the work and social life of young women? Survey study, 2025 How common are menstrual problems in medical students and what causes them? Survey study, 2025 How common is PMS in high school girls, and which non-drug methods help reduce anxiety and stress? Survey study, 2024 How does period pain affect students' academic performance? Survey study, 2024 What types of premenstrual syndrome exist and how common are they? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗