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 (E 2 ), 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 E 2 maximum of 440 pmol/L or more, P maximum of 19nmol/L or more, and luteal phase length of 9days 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 P Conclusions High cognitive restraint in everyday eating behavior may be a risk factor for the development of menstrual disturbance in young women.