Question

Female bodybuilders and women with eating disorders often stop having menstrual cycles. what does this relationship suggest about the role of body fat in menstruation? how might the body benefit from ceasing to menstruate under such circumstances? what other areas might need to be addressed for this patient?

Answer 1

Having body fat contributes to having a menstrual cycle. If a woman loses too much body fat, she can stop having her menstrual cycle because you need a certain amount for it to be able to function as normal. I don't think the body would benefit from ceasing to menstruate, because at that point it isn't really healthy. However, usually if a woman gains back some of the body fat or starts eating fattier foots/exercising less, her period will start again.