Female dieting effects.

[deegee]

This maybe a little touchy for some of the females here however if any of the guys have experience, thier input is appreciated.

As I have already stated I am learning about female dieting at the moment, because I am helping out a female freind.

As some females diet and excercise it appears in some that they can reach a critical bodyfat point where the menstral cycle stops or becomes irregular. i have read this is the case with many top level athletes. This is not a problem if it is pre competition and of short duration.

However the change in hormone levels do they affect training?

As long as it is short term will it have any effect on future fertility?

i have advised contacting her doctor but am interested in knowing how female hormones work in training does being on an oral contraceptive make any difference?

Any links would be welcome as I understand some might prefer not to comment directly.

[carma]

Hi Deegee

I've just been looking uo my text books for you.

The condition you are talking about is called Amenorrhea. My books dont really go into any detail about this condition but i suggest you do a search on the net and you are bound to find heaps of information.

This is not something that any female should have going on for too long. I dont know too much about it but i would say that it could cause some long term problems with bone density and if a female has a body fat level so low that it causes her to stop menstrating then i'd say it probably would affect her training because her energy levels would probably be pretty low.

Anyway i hope this helps & i'd say a search on the net is your best bet.

[deegee]

I have just been on a search and found quite alot already, it would appear that Amenorrhea is the severe case, and this is somewhat long term.

Also reading that it does not seem to be bodyfat related but more related to te quality of diet, which is what I am researching at the moment. I am trying to find some medical texts at the moment.

It looks like female hormones are far easier upset than males. However found out enough already to take soe time to digest

cheers for the reply

DG

[Growth]

i have advised contacting her doctor...

Very good advise, if your ever in doubt about something check with your doctor first.

I have also heard of this, but i was under the impression it was BF related.

Will be interesting to hear what you find deegee.

[jono]

i have advised contacting her doctor...

Very good advise, if your ever in doubt about something check with your doctor first.

I have also heard of this, but i was under the impression it was BF related.

Will be interesting to hear what you find deegee.

hmm i also heard when female athletes BF gets too low their hormones become affected.

[DumBelle]

The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland (located near the base of the brain) to release two hormones that regulate the female reproductive cycle: luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. These hormones influence the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are responsible for cyclic changes in the lining of the uterus, including menstruation. In order for a woman to have regular menstrual cycles, her hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries and uterus must be functioning properly.

When the body fat levels drop beyond a certain percent in women this is what occurs.

The main problem that comes to my mind when I think about that hormone balance being disturbed, or when estrogen levels are affected is osteoarthritis and loss of bone density. Not a state you'd want to be in for any great length of time then. The other is loss of muscle mass eventually. When the body has less fat to reduce, it starts to attack mass instead as it will do anything to try and preserve fat at all costs.