Weighty issue
Question
Sometimes before my period comes I start to feel a bloated and fat. Is this normal? Do periods make you put on weight?
Answer
There are a number of symptoms women can experience before their period and all of these are brought together under the term PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome).
A number of these symptoms can effect a woman's weight in the lead up to their period, so many women do find they experience some sort of weight gain. Specific symptoms can include abdominal bloating, water retention, slight swelling of breasts, and food cravings. All of these can result in you gaining extra weight.
As well as various physical symptoms, with PMS there can also be emotional symptoms, such as sadness and irritability.
The BBC health website features advice about how to deal with the bloating feeling.
If you do have concerns regarding weight gain, or any other symptoms you experience before or during your period, your local doctor (GP) should be able to help you.
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