Can you gain weight on your period?

Can you gain weight on your period?

Like clockwork, I can expect to get a frantic call or text from friends once a month. 

“Holy shit I think I gained like five pounds”

“Why am I three pounds heavier than yesterday??”

Each time, my first question to them is always the same: Are you, by any chance, on or about to be on your period? 

While it is completely natural, and 100% fine to gain weight, this sudden, often seemingly overnight, increase on the scale can spark panic in many people who menstruate. Perhaps, like me, you’ve already accepted gaining weight on your period as a truth of life…but how true is it, exactly?

A 2023 study found that participants weighed on average .45 kg (~1 lb) more during their period in comparison to the beginning of their cycle. This study determined that the increase in weight could be attributed to greater fluid retention. Water retention is a common premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptom for many people, and occurs due to increases in progesterone. 

Increased water retention is not, however, the only potential explanation for a higher weight leading up to and during your period. If you’re enjoying the saltier or sweeter (and perhaps less healthy) cravings caused by your period, you may experience some normal food-related bloating, which may cause your clothing to fit tighter. Sugar, caffeine, and salt may all contribute to this. Another common culprit is bowel issues. Higher progesterone levels, which occur before menstruation and during pregnancy, have also been linked to causing constipation, which may also cause a higher number to appear on the scale. 

Beyond the causes for literal weight gain, many women report exacerbated body dysmorphia during their period. This has been backed up by clinical psychologists like Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, who have found that women perceive their bodies as being larger during their periods. While there isn’t necessarily a clean explanation as to why this is the case, you should nevertheless keep in mind that you may be falsely perceiving your body as larger than it is during this time of the month. If you notice this happening regularly, be sure to jot it down in a journal and bring it up to a doctor or therapist. 

In short, no, you didn’t magically gain several pounds of fat, and no, the “junk” food you enjoyed during your period wasn’t the weight gain culprit. While this phenomenon is largely unavoidable, there are a few ways to minimize its effects, as well as PMS symptoms at large, including limiting your salt intake, making sure to move, and getting sufficient sleep at night. Don’t be afraid, though, to bring up the issue to your doctor if bloating is causing you discomfort or you’re gaining a significant amount of weight during your period. If your PMS symptoms, like weight gain and bloating, are severely impacting your day-to-day life, you may be suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more extreme version of PMS.

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