Managing the premenstrual body: a body mapping study of women ’s negotiation of premenstrual food cravings and exercise

ConclusionsThese findings emphasise the need to acknowledge changes in body management across the menstrual cycle, with implications for women ’s mental health and feelings about the self. Internalisation of pressures placed on women to manage their bodies through restrictive eating behaviours and rigorous exercise plays a role in women’s premenstrual body dissatisfaction and distress.Plain English summaryThe current study aimed to explore how women who feel negatively about their premenstrual bodies construct and experience premenstrual changes to eating and exercise practices. Outside of the premenstrual phase these women engaged in restrictive eating and intensive exercise behaviours which were disrupted by premenstrual cravings, hunger, fatigue, pain and feeling physically uncomfortable. Some women allowed themselves to take a premenstrual break from their usual strict eating and exercise behaviours, whereas others felt guilt, shame, self-disgust and physically pushed their bodies through increased exercise. These findings emphasise that changes to eating and exercise behaviours across the menstrual cycle and pressures placed on women to manage their eating and exercise behaviours have implications for women ’s premenstrual distress and body dissatisfaction.

Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - October 9, 2021 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research