PD163 - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND CHOCOLATE CRAVINGS AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE

PD163

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND CHOCOLATE CRAVINGS AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE

L. Khamis¹, M. Züll², S. B. Berkemeyer^1,*

¹NutritionLab, Hochschule Osnabrück, Osnabrueck, ²St. Marien-Hospital gGmbH, Friesoythe, Germany

Rationale: Chocolate craving is frequently discussed in connection with menstruation cycle with unclear etiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of chocolate craving over the course of the menstrual cycle with eating behavior-related and sociocultural characteristics.

Methods: In an anonymous online cross-sectional study, women of childbearing age were surveyed using standardized instruments assessing cycle (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, luteal phases) and chocolate craving, chocolate affinity, craving intensity, craving frequency, guilt, restrictive eating behavior, eating control (rigid or flexible), disinhibition, acculturation, country of origin, ethnic identification, and German identity. Analysis was conducted using Chi-square and correlations; an alpha of 0.5 was considered significant. 

Results: The luteal phase showed the highest number of chocolate craving days; it was also most frequently identified as the phase with the strongest chocolate craving. Positive correlations of chocolate craving were found with disinhibition, feelings of guilt, chocolate affinity, restrictive eating behavior, and rigid control. No significant correlations were found between flexible control and acculturation. Exploratory analyses suggested that menstruation-related craving associated with higher menstruation intensity and frequency, and higher BMI than non-menstruation-related craving. A higher average craving score was observed for Turkish participants; no correlation was found between German identity and chocolate craving.

Conclusion: Our investigation suggests that chocolate craving varies across the menstrual cycle with probable multidimensional physiological and psychological correlates. Future research requires differentiating between menstruation-related and non-menstruation-related craving and accounting of sugar content of the chocolate to understand chocolate craving behavior.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared