Everyday eating behavior and menstrual function in young women

Objective: To examine the association of different types of everyday eating behavior with disturbances of menstrual function. Design: Prospective cohort study with two groups, low dietary restraint (n = 13) and high dietary restraint (n = 9), identified with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire by Stunkard and Messick. Setting: Research clinic. Participants: Normal volunteers (students and young professionals). Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Frequent serum and urine samples for determination of estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P), and metabolites. Food and behavioral diaries. Results: Eleven of the 13 women with low dietary restraint had menstrual cycles that fulfilled the following standard criteria: Serum E₂ maximum of 440 pmol/L or more, P maximum of 19 nmol/L or more, and luteal phase length of 9 days or more. Only 2 of the 9 women with high dietary restraint had cycles that satisfied these criteria. Of the remaining 7, 1 had an anovulatory cycle and 6 had decreased P concentrations (P < 0.05) and/or a shortened luteal phase (P < 0.02). Conclusions: High cognitive restraint in everyday eating behavior may be a risk factor for the development of menstrual disturbance in young women.