Weight gain during menstruation, this is the reason

Stomach cramps, acne, back pain, and emotional fluctuations are some of the classic signs of PMS ahead of the arrival of the monthly visitors. In addition, there are many women who complain that the numbers on their scales go up when they want to have their menses. What causes weight gain during menstruation? Check it out below.

The cause of weight gain during menstruation has to do with your PMS symptoms

About 85% of women will experience PMS by the first day of their menstruation. Although it is not certain what causes PMS, experts suspect that this series of annoying symptoms is related to hormonal changes in the female body.

These hormonal changes can affect your increase in appetite. Your appetite is regulated by two types hormone, namely ghrelin, the appetite trigger that is produced in the stomach and leptin which is produced in the lymph cells to suppress hunger. Changes in body hormones can disrupt the work of these two hunger hormones, so that the stomach triggers the release of more ghrelin hormone while leptin production actually breaks down. A higher appetite can certainly be the cause of weight gain during menstruation.

In addition, weight gain during menstruation may also be affected by the accumulation of water weight in the body, aka water retention. Water weight gain is also influenced by hormonal changes during menstruation, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D, a professor of gynecology at Yale Medical School.

This time, the hormone responsible for increasing water weight is the hormone estrogen. More estrogen levels make the body's cells store more fluids. In the end, this makes the body feel firmer and denser, especially in the breast area. This water weight gain can occur 5-7 days before the first day of menstruation, but the amount is not much - only about 0.5 kg.

Mood changes can also make you gain weight during menstruation

Still associated with hormonal changes during menstruation. Approaching menstruation, some women experience drastic mood changes, such as irritability, sadness, and some even show mild depressive symptoms. Emotional turmoil coupled with daily stress and other painful PMS symptoms can further increase your stress levels. Eating when emotional can make your food portions uncontrollable and lead to weight gain.

Research in the International Journal of Eating Disorder in 2015 even shows that changes in mood during menstruation actually have an effect on increasing appetite that is higher than the effects of hormonal changes themselves biologically.

In addition, emotional changes coupled with PMS pain symptoms generally make some women do less activity. As a result, the food that comes in is burned less. That's why you can see your weight gain during your period.

Is this weight gain permanent?

In general, weight gain during your period will shrink back after your period is over. When you start menstruating, your estrogen levels will begin to drop to their normal level, which can lead to even more water weight loss.

But of course the numbers on the scale can stay or even increase, if during PMS and menstruation you still eat a lot.

What should be done to control this weight change?

Drink plenty of water to get rid of water retention by consuming 8-10 glasses of water per day.
Avoid fatty foods, alcohol, and caffeine that trigger the body to retain water, especially before menstrual periods occur
Limit foods that are high in salt before and during menstruation to reduce the weight of water in the body. This means reducing salty foods and preservative foods.
Always do regular exercise before and during menstruation. Regular physical activity helps reduce pre-menstrual symptoms. In addition, exercise can help reduce stress and reduce appetite that occurs when the hormone estrogen peaks (just before menstrual blood comes out).
Increased appetite control ahead of menstruation. Don't overindulge and indulge in overeating.