Survey study, 2015
Is physical fitness related to premenstrual symptoms?
Higher cardiorespiratory fitness was strongly linked to lower PMS symptoms, while higher body weight was linked to higher symptoms. Fitness was the strongest predictor of both physical and psychological PMS symptoms.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 86 young women aged 18-25. They measured fitness using a treadmill test, recorded physical activity levels, measured weight and height, and asked about PMS symptoms using questionnaires.
What they found
Cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly negatively correlated with physical and psychological PMS symptoms. Higher exercise activity was linked to lower PMS. Higher body mass index (BMI) was linked to higher PMS. Cardiorespiratory fitness was the strongest predictor overall.
What it means for you
Physical fitness appears to be protective against PMS. However, we do not know if getting fitter will reduce PMS or if women with less PMS are simply more likely to be fit. This is a small study of young college women, so findings may not apply to all women.
86
participants
18-25
age range (years)
P<0.05
statistically significant correlation
About the study
- Original title
- Relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness, habitual physical activity, body mass index and premenstrual symptoms in collegiate students
- Authors
- Haghighi ES, Jahromi MK, Daryano Osh F
- Journal
- The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 86
- What was tested
- None. This was an observational study.
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26205766/
Topics
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