---
title: Do hormonal changes during the cycle affect binge eating in women without eating disorders?
description: Yes. Binge eating urges were higher in the two weeks before the period and lower when estrogen was higher, even in women without eating disorders.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/ovarian-hormones-and-binge-eating-exploring-associations-in-community-samples-2008/
---

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- Do hormonal changes during the cycle affect binge eating in women without eating disorders?

Cohort study, 2008

# Do hormonal changes during the cycle affect binge eating in women without eating disorders?

Yes. Binge eating urges were higher in the two weeks before the period and lower when estrogen was higher, even in women without eating disorders.

 Early or limited evidence

10 women in study 1 and 9 women in study 2 from the community without eating disorders

## What they did

Two studies of women who tracked their eating behavior daily. In study 1, 10 women completed eating measures for 35 days. In study 2, 9 women completed the same measures for 65 days and also provided daily saliva samples so researchers could measure estrogen and progesterone levels.

## What they found

In study 1, emotional eating scores increased during the premenstrual phase compared to other parts of the cycle. In study 2, emotional eating was inversely associated with estrogen and positively associated with progesterone across the menstrual cycle. This relationship held true even when accounting for mood changes.

## What it means for you

Hormonal changes affect eating patterns in women without eating disorders, not just those with bulimia. This suggests ovarian hormones could be a risk factor for binge eating. Prospective studies on larger groups are needed. Main limitations are very small sample size and short tracking duration.

10

Women tracked in study 1

9

Women tracked in study 2 with hormone samples

35 and 65

Days of tracking in study 1 and study 2

## About the study

Original title Ovarian hormones and binge eating: exploring associations in community samples Authors Klump KL, Keel PK, Culbert KM et al. Journal Psychological medicine Year 2008 Study design Cohort study Participants 10 What was tested None - observational study tracking menstrual cycle and hormone changes Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0033291708002997](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291708002997)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)

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## Related studies

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Does weight preoccupation change during the menstrual cycle, and what causes these changes?

Survey study, 2013

Do personality traits affect whether hormone changes cause emotional eating?

Study, 2013

Do hormone changes during the menstrual cycle cause increases in emotional eating?

Case-control study, 2010

Do women with PMDD crave high-sugar and high-fat foods more than other women?

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