--- title: Does weight preoccupation change during the menstrual cycle, and what causes these changes? description: Yes, weight preoccupation is highest in the premenstrual and menstrual phases. However, hormones are not the main cause. Emotional eating is the strongest pre url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effects-of-ovarian-hormones-and-emotional-eating-on-changes-in-weight-2015/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does weight preoccupation change during the menstrual cycle, and what causes these changes? Study, 2015 # Does weight preoccupation change during the menstrual cycle, and what causes these changes? Yes, weight preoccupation is highest in the premenstrual and menstrual phases. However, hormones are not the main cause. Emotional eating is the strongest predictor of when women worry more about weight during the cycle. Moderate study design 352 women aged 15-25 years ## What they did Recruited 352 women aged 15-25. For 45 consecutive days, women recorded their weight preoccupation, negative feelings, and emotional eating every day. Saliva samples were also collected daily to measure hormones estradiol and progesterone. ## What they found Weight preoccupation varied significantly across the menstrual cycle, with highest levels in the premenstrual and menstrual phases. Ovarian hormones did not explain these changes. Instead, changes in emotional eating were the strongest predictor of weight preoccupation changes during the cycle. ## What it means for you Weight preoccupation fluctuates with the menstrual cycle but not because of hormones. When women eat emotionally, they worry more about weight. This helps explain eating concerns during different phases. However, the study measured thoughts about weight rather than actual eating, so we don't know if worrying more leads to eating differently. 352 women studied 45 days of daily tracking 15-25 age range ## About the study Original title The effects of ovarian hormones and emotional eating on changes in weight preoccupation across the menstrual cycle Authors Hildebrandt BA, Racine SE, Keel PK et al. Journal The International journal of eating disorders Year 2015 Study design Study Participants 352 What was tested None (observational study tracking daily patterns) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/eat.22326](https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22326) ## 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/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/) 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 Survey study, 2021 Do disordered eating symptoms change across the phases of the menstrual cycle? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2026 How do pain, sleep quality, and appetite change across the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2021 How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect women's menstrual cycles and symptoms? Case-control study, 2020 Do appetite hormones and eating behaviors change differently across the luteal phase in women with PMDD? Cohort study, 2015 Do genetic influences on emotional eating change across the menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗