The effects of ovarian hormones and emotional eating on changes in weight preoccupation across the menstrual cycle

Abstract

Objective Previous research has shown that fluctuations in ovarian hormones (i.e., estradiol and progesterone) predict changes in binge eating and emotional eating across the menstrual cycle. However, the extent to which other eating disorder symptoms fluctuate across the menstrual cycle and are influenced by ovarian hormones remains largely unknown. The current study sought to examine whether levels of weight preoccupation vary across the menstrual cycle and whether changes in ovarian hormones and/or other factors (i.e., emotional eating, negative affect) account for menstrual-cycle fluctuations in this eating disorder phenotype. Method For 45 consecutive days, 352 women ages 15–25 provided daily ratings of weight preoccupation, negative affect, and emotional eating. Daily saliva samples also were collected and assayed for estradiol and progesterone levels using enzyme-immunoassay techniques. Results Weight preoccupation varied significantly across the menstrual cycle, with the highest levels in the pre-menstrual and menstrual phases. However, ovarian hormones did not account for within-person changes in weight preoccupation across the menstrual cycle. Instead, the most significant predictor of menstrual-cycle changes in weight preoccupation was changes in emotional eating. Discussion Fluctuations in weight preoccupation across the menstrual cycle appear to be influenced primarily by emotional eating rather than ovarian hormones. Future research should continue to examine relationships among ovarian hormones, weight preoccupation, emotional eating, and other core eating disorder symptoms (e.g., body dissatisfaction, compensatory behaviors) in an effort to more fully understand the role of these biological and behavioral factors for the full spectrum of eating pathology.

Association of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder with bulimia nervosa and binge‐eating disorder in a nationally representative epidemiological sample

“…Our findings of an association between lifetime PMDD and lifetime BN adds to previous research that has reported an exacerbation of bulimic symptoms during the late luteal phase among women with and without premenstrual symptoms 25-27 , 38,39 and evaluating eating-and body image-related symptoms among women with PMDD but who do not have diagnosed eating disorders. [22][23][24] As these studies suggest, it is possible that women with PMDD are at greater risk for developing binge-eating because they experience greater premenstrual negative affect and appetite for high-calorie foods, which, in turn, leads to binge-eating. 22,39,40 Alternatively, it is possible that some women are particularly vulnerable to the impact of ovarian hormones, and that variations in ovarian hormones may increase risk for both binge-eating and negative effect, thereby increasing risk of both disorders simultaneously.…”

“…Additionally, psychological changes associated with PMS and PMDD, such as alterations in mood and affect, may serve as triggers. Among healthy reproductive‐aged women, weight preoccupation was found to be significantly higher in the premenstrual and menstrual phases of the menstrual cycle, independent of interindividual variation in estradiol and progesterone levels …”

“…Among healthy reproductiveaged women, weight preoccupation was found to be significantly higher in the premenstrual and menstrual phases of the menstrual cycle, independent of interindividual variation in estradiol and progesterone levels. 24 Little past research has investigated the potential role of premenstrual conditions in the onset, severity and duration of binge-type eating disorders. A few studies have documented an exacerbation of bulimic symptoms during the premenstrual phase, [25][26][27] during which increases in the ovarian hormones progesterone and estrogen may be associated with depressed mood, irritability, and anger.…”

Research Review: What we have learned about the causes of eating disorders – a synthesis of sociocultural, psychological, and biological research

“…Longitudinal studies across the menstrual cycle have demonstrated that changes in estradiol and progesterone predict changes in emotional eating and/or binge eating in community samples and in women with clinical binge eating and BN (Edler, Lipson, & Keel, ; Klump, Keel, Culbert, & Edler, ; Klump et al., , ), with effect sizes ranging from small‐to‐medium in magnitude. In contrast with the consistent effects of ovarian hormones on behavioral components (i.e., emotional eating and binge eating), data suggest minimal ovarian hormone effects on cognitive symptoms (e.g., weight preoccupation) (Hildebrandt et al., ; Racine et al., ). Together, findings indicate that age and pubertal maturation substantially contribute to the emergence of genetic risk for disordered eating symptoms, at least in girls, yet whether these effects extend to risk for full‐threshold diagnoses remains to be investigated.…”

Reproductive and Appetite Hormones and Bulimic Symptoms during Midlife

“…eating in response to negative emotions), weight preoccupation and body image dissatisfaction (Carr‐Nangle, Johnson, Bergeron, & Nangle, ; Hildebrandt et al . , ; Jappe & Gardner, ; Klump, Keel, Culbert, & Edler, ). Taken together with the role E2 has in risk for bulimic symptoms during adolescence (Klump, ), the associations between E2 levels and eating disorder symptomatology during the menstrual cycle in women with and without BN suggest that periods of hormonal fluctuation may be a vulnerable time for risk and exacerbation of bulimic symptomatology.…”