Can losing weight cause missed periods?

Some women experience irregular menstruation during the weight loss period. This may all be due to problems with the method of weight loss. Some people lose weight through drugs, which is very harmful to women's bodies, so if possible, do not use drugs to lose weight. You can do some moderate exercise or adjust your diet. So, how can losing weight cause amenorrhea?

Losing weight causes amenorrhea

1. The urinary system is not a priority

There are eight major systems in our body: digestive tract, respiratory tract, respiratory system, urogenital system, endocrine system, urinary system, endocrine system and central nervous system.

The urinary system plays a relatively minor role here, because even if it doesn't work, you won't die easily. Therefore, during the weight loss process, if the body's energy supply is too little, in order to "survive", the only energy in the body will first be provided to important systems, such as the respiratory tract and the central nervous system. The urinary system will be temporarily shut down due to lack of energy. For women, the main adverse effect is delayed, less menstruation, or even amenorrhea.

2. What weight loss method will help you avoid periods?

Apart from common reasons such as excessive stress, depression, and lack of rest, for friends who want to lose weight, the factors that affect menstruation are mainly the following:

1) Too little intake of regular meals and protein

If you consume too little food for a long time, especially too little carbohydrates, your blood sugar supply will be insufficient, your brain energy will be insufficient, and many organs will not be able to function normally. At this time, the body will shut down some important functions in order to "protect itself", such as reducing the estrogen and estrogens secreted by the uterus and ovaries, which will delay, reduce, or even eliminate your period.

Therefore, to lose weight, you should avoid eating less than 1200 calories a day (1500 calories is best), and at least three fist-sized meals, a cup of milk, an egg, and a ball-sized portion of meat every day.

2) Eating weight loss products randomly:

Many weight loss products have an inhibitory effect on the glandular ducts and will damage women's endocrine system.

3) Excessive exercise:

Studies have shown that among female professional athletes who train frequently, many of them will have irregular menstruation, and some may even stop having menstrual periods altogether.

During the exercise process, the human body will release endorphins. This kind of active peptide substance can make people produce lasting happiness and calmness. Therefore, if you insist on exercising, your mood and mental state will be improved. However, too much exercise can easily cause the body to produce too much endorphin, which will disrupt the secretion of hypothalamic pituitary hormone, thereby causing an imbalance in the pituitary secretion function of the female body, resulting in a decrease in menstrual volume, delayed menstruation, and even amenorrhea.

Therefore, we generally recommend that women do not exceed two hours of moderate-intensity exercise a day, or do not exceed one hour of high-intensity exercise. And there should be at least 2 statutory holidays every week.

Note that excessive exercise here usually only occurs in professional athletes/physical trainers. Ordinary people will not be able to achieve the level of "excessive" if they exercise for less than an hour a day. If your period is delayed or not coming, please look for other reasons.

4) Low body weight:

Under normal circumstances, adult women should have at least 23% body fat in their body weight, which is the optimal body fat level for them to become pregnant, give birth and breastfeed.

If the proportion of body fat is too low, less than 17% of body weight, the body lacks the raw materials to produce estrogen, which affects the normal level of estrogen, thereby affecting the formation and cycle of normal menstruation. It is very easy to cause amenorrhea. Human body fat contains steroid hormones, which are the raw materials for producing estrogen. Without the stimulation of estrogen, the uterine wall will not thicken and menstruation will not come.