not underweight and irregular periods?

[xxHellRosexx]

I'm 17, somewhere around 115 pounds maybe (my scale at home is broken and that's just what I weighed when I went to the doctor three months ago) and I've been restricting for 2 1/2 years. The past several months, I've been able to restrict and fast more and have probably lost more weight, but I'm still not thin enough to fit the weight criteria for anorexia nervosa or even be considered underweight. My periods have been extremely irregular for a couple of months now, and this month it was late and there was only a tiny bit of spotting. I'm not even quite sure if it was that, actually, or if I was just randomly bleeding a little because there were none of the usual pms symptoms. Is it possible to still be at a healthy weight and start having cycle problems like this due to restricting or is it more likely caused by something else?

[Patricia Pitts, PhD]

Hi,
I hear your concern about your menstrual cycle and this is an important concern because it is ONE way that your body is being affected by your restricting behavior. It is very important you have a physical done to rule out any other medical conditions. I can’t speak to your case specifically as you would need to have a medical work up done to determine what is right for you.  However, with eating disorders in general, it is common for those who engage in restricting and/or purging behaviors to experience irregular menstrual cycles, even amenorrhea (the cessation of your cycle altogether). This can have many different consequences including osteopenia or osteoporosis, the thinning of your bones, which can lead to increased chances of fracturing or breaking your bones. Again, I would first recommend seeing a physician and sharing about your eating disorder so they may conduct the appropriate examination and assess your health. Second, I would encourage you to seek professional mental health support. Eating disorders are serious and can have fatal consequences. Please seek the help you deserve! You don’t have to live your life obsessing over your weight, body, and food. For more information about eating disorders and treatment, you can visit the bella vita website.  Best regards, Dr. Patricia Pitts, PhD The Bella Vita Los Angeles, CA

[risscake]

Hello, I'm going through a similar thing and from what I understand irregular periods have nothing to do with weight. a 250 pound woman may stop her cycle if due stops giving her body the nutrition it needs to cycle :/