The Relationship between Menstrual Cycle and Eating Attitude in Female High School Students

Abstract

　The aim of this study was to examine whether there is the relationship between menstrual cycle and eating attitude in female high school students. The subjects were 121 female Japanese high school students. Their menstrual cycles (regular, irregular or amenorrhea, experience of amenorrhea: EA) were assessed and two different eating attitude tests (EAT, which is used to measure symptoms of anorexia nervosa (EAT), and Bulimic Inventory Test, Edinburgh（BITE, which is used to measure symptoms of bulimia nervosa) were performed. 62.8% of subjects had regular menstrual cycles, 27.3% had irregular cycles or amenorrhea, and 9.9% were EA. Significant differences were not observed in total score for EAT among menstrual cycle groups. In contrast, total score of BITE was significantly higher in EA subjects than in the other two groups. The scores for bulimia and food preoccupation, which are subscales of EAT, were significantly higher in EA than other groups. The score for the symptom scale, which is a subscale of BITE, was also significantly higher in EA than other groups. Hence, the results of the present study suggest that bulimia contributes to amenorrhea in high school students. In conclusion, it is likely that malnutrition due to abnormal eating attitudes is a cause of amenorrhea. For further study, psychological and biological approach will be needed in the examination of abnormal eating attitudes.