More childhood body mass increases risk of premenstrual disorders during young adulthood

Sweden: In a new study conducted by Donghao Lu and the team, it was found that premenstrual disorder (PMD) risk and premenstrual symptoms in young adulthood were linked to childhood body size. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

According to new research, more than two-thirds of premenstrual disorders (PMDs), including premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome, begin in adolescence. Although adult obesity has been linked to PMDs, the link between childhood and teenage body size is uncertain. As a result, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between childhood and teenage body size and the risk of PMDs in early adulthood.

This prospective cohort research includes 6524 female Growing Up Today Study participants from the United States (1996-2013). The data was examined from February 26, 2020, to June 23, 2021. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on self-reported height and weight throughout adolescence and translated to BMI for age (z score). Premenstrual symptoms and PMDs were measured in 2013 using a validated scale based on the Calendar of Premenstrual Experiences. Using log-binomial and linear regressions, the relationships of BMI for age with PMDs and premenstrual symptoms were investigated.

The key findings of this study were as follow:

1. 1004 (15.4%) of the 6524 participants satisfied the criteria for a PMD.

2. Baseline BMI for age was related to a greater incidence of PMDs and a higher burden of premenstrual symptoms at a mean (SD) age of 12.7  years.

3. The associations were especially strong for premenstrual dysphoric disorder and PMDs with symptoms starting before the age of 20, and they persisted in the absence of mental comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behavior. Individuals with high BMI during adolescence had a greater burden of premenstrual symptoms compared to those with normal BMI throughout adolescence, according to a study that looked at BMI fluctuation over time.

4. Individuals with a high BMI at first, followed by a moderate drop, did not have more premenstrual symptoms.

In conclusion, from the findings of this cohort study, childhood obesity is related to a greater risk of PMDs and a larger burden of premenstrual symptoms in early adulthood. Maintaining a normal body mass in childhood may be considered for reducing the development of a variety of future health concerns in young adults, including PMDs if this link is proven in independent populations.

Reference:

Lu D, Aleknaviciute J, Kamperman AM, et al. Association Between Childhood Body Size and Premenstrual Disorders in Young Adulthood. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e221256. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.1256

Keywords: depression, premenstrual syndrome, JAMA, anxiety, eating behavior, body mass index, premenstrual disorder, adolescent, obesity, Donghao Lu