Study, 1984

Do women with PMS actually gain weight or bloat, or is it just how they feel?

Women with PMS report feeling bloated during the premenstrual phase, but actual body weight and body measurements do not increase. The sensation appears to be a change in how women perceive their bodies, not an actual physical change.

Moderate study design 52 women studied over 148 menstrual cycles

What they did

Researchers studied 52 women over 148 menstrual cycles. In each cycle they measured daily mood, body weight, and hormone levels. They measured the width and depth of the abdomen at two locations (at the belly button and 10 cm below) and asked women to estimate their own body measurements at the same places.

What they found

Mood scores showed a marked increase during the premenstrual phase. Women reported marked bloatedness during the premenstrual phase. Despite these marked bloatedness reports, there was no increase in body weight or actual body measurements. Women's perception of their body size did increase during the premenstrual phase, and there was a clear difference between how big they thought they were and how big they actually were.

What it means for you

The feeling of bloating in PMS may reflect how women perceive their bodies rather than actual physical swelling. This could help explain why some PMS symptoms feel so real even when physical measurements show no change. The study was limited to 52 women, so the findings may not apply equally to all women.

women

148

menstrual cycles studied

About the study

Original title: Premenstrual syndrome: weight, abdominal swelling, and perceived body image
Authors: Faratian B, Gaspar A, O'Brien PM et al.
Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Year: 1984
Study design: Study
Participants: 52
Open access: Yes
Read the paper: doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(84)80016-2

Topics

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)Menstrual cycle and mood Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms Stigma, attitudes and culture

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