Exploring Menstrual Cycle Effects of Antecedents on Physical Activity and Diet: A Systematic Scoping Review

Physical activity (PA) and diet fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This systematic scoping review aimed to (1) provide a critical assessment of the methodologies, identify (2) relevant predictors of PA and diet throughout the cycle based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and (3) knowledge gaps. PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched from inception until September 2024. Peer-reviewed English publications were included if they reported on PA or diet and TDF constructs in relation to the menstrual cycle in biological female populations of reproductive age currently not suffering from conditions impairing PA or diet. Of 9,247 screened records, 36 were included, comprising 28 primary studies and 9 reviews. The TDF component of emotions was the most explored in both diet and PA studies, although the latter investigated a broader range of constructs (e.g., social influences, attention). The menstrual phase, pain and bleeding impaired PA and performance. The results on diet remained inconclusive. Small samples, cross-sectional designs, heterogeneity of menstrual cycle assessments and a lack of explicit sex-based recruitment limit generalizability. Gaps include several TDF constructs (e.g., self-efficacy). Longitudinal designs and objective assessments of the menstrual cycle and behaviours in larger heterogeneous samples are needed.