To regain my periods, should I gain muscle or fat?
Asked by anonymous on Aug 29, 2009
in Eating Disorders
I have a healthy BMI (18.6-18.8) but a low body fat percentage (12-14%). I am 18 years old, and have experienced secondary amenorrhoea for a year now. In order to get my periods back, do I need to gain fat, or would a gain in muscle work just as well, as it would still increase my overall BMI, even if it doesn't increase my body fat %?
Answer
Low body fat per se may not cause amenorrhea (a’.men.or.rhe.a), the abnormal cessation of menstruation. A study of female runners showed that a low body fat (17%) did not produce amenorrhea when body weight was adequate. However, your percentage of body fat is extremely low and I do not believe your weight of 118 lb (54 kg) is enough for a 5'7" girl. With a small frame, you should increase your weight to 125 lb by gaining muscle and/or fat. Most experts agree that meeting calorie requirements is critical to regulate the hormones involved in ovulation, and so you need to eat enough calories to support your ideal weight. If your exercise level is "vigorous" as you indicate, your calorie intake should be about 2350 a day.
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