Skip to main content

Consequences of Dieting and Exercise on Menstrual Function in Normal Weight Young Women

  • Conference paper

Abstract

Weight-reducing diets typically provide amounts of micronutrients and proteins that are within the limits of common recommendations and do not cause the characteristic disease states due to shortage of an essential nutrient. Diet composition of macro-nutrients mostly deviates from usual weight maintenance diets, but varies widely. Caloric intake is always reduced and typically varies between zero and about 1200 kcal. The majority of women that use these diets are not obese. Most of them diet for cosmetic or professional reasons to conform with cultural ideals linking beauty to slimness. Some diet to obtain an optimal weight for athletic performance. In some women dieting represents a response to stressful life situations. And not infrequently dieting occurs in the context of psychiatric disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and depression. In many of these situations dieting may occur together with increased exercise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Deuster PA, Kyle SB, Moser PB, Vigersky RA, Singh A, Schoomaker EB (1986) Nutritional intakes and status of highly trained amenorrheic and eumenorrheic women runners. Fertil Steril 46: 636–643

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drinkwater BL, Nilson K, Chesnut CH, Bremner WJ, Shainholtz S, Southworth MB (1984) Bone mineral content of amenorrheic and eumenorrheic athletes. N Engl J Med 311: 277–281

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fichter MM, Pirke KM (1984) Hypothalamic pituitary function in starving healthy subjects. In: Pirke KM, Ploog D (eds) The psychobiology of anorexia nervosa. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 124–135

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher EC, Nelson ME, Frontera WR, Turksoy RN, Evans WJ (1986) Bone mineral content and levels of gonadotropins and estrogens in amenorrheic running women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 62: 1232–1236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herman CP, Mack D (1975) Restrained and unrestrained eating. J Pers 43: 647–660

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurzer MS, Calloway DH (1986) Effects of energy deprivation on sex hormone patterns in healthy menstruating women. Am J Physiol 251: E483–E488

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd T, Buchanan JR, Bitzer S, Waldmann CJ, Myers C, Ford BG (1987) Interrelationships of diet, athletic activity, menstrual status, and bone density in collegiate women. Am J Clin Nutr 46: 681–684

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marcus R, Cann C, Madvig P, Minkoff J, Goddard M, Bayer M, Martin M, Gaudiani L, Haskell W, Genant H (1985) Menstrual function and bone mass in elite women distance runners. Ann Intern Med 102: 158–163

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson ME, Fisher EC, Catsos PD, Meredith CN, Turksoy RN, Evans WJ (1986) Diet and bone status in amenorrheic athletes. Am J Clin Nutr 43: 910–916

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pirke KM, Schweiger U, Lemmel W, Krieg JC, Berger M (1985) The influence of dieting in the menstrual cycle of healthy young women. J Clin Endocr 60: 1174–1179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pirke KM, Schweiger U, Laessle R, Dickhaut B, Schweiger M, Waechtler M (1986) Dieting influences the menstrual cycle: vegetarian versus nonvegetarian diet. Fertil Steril 46: 1083–1088

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pirke KM, Schweiger U, Strowitzki T, Tuschl RJ, Laessle RG, Broocks A, Huber B, Middendorf R (1988) Dieting causes menstrual irregularities in normal weight young women through impairment of episodic luteinizing hormone secretion. Fertil Steril 51: 263–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanborn CF, Albrecht BH, Wagner WW (1987) Athletic amenorrhea: lack of association with body fat. Med Sci Sports Exerc 19: 207–212

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schweiger U, Laessle R, Pfister H, Hoehl C, Schwingenschloegel M, Schweiger M, Pirke KM (1987) Diet-induced menstrual irregularities: effects of age and weight loss. Fertil Steril 48: 746–751

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schweiger U, Laessle R, Schweiger M, Herrmann F, Riedel W, Pirke KM (1988) Caloric intake, stress, and menstrual function in athletes. Fertil Steril 49: 447–450

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stunkard AJ, Messick S (1985) The three-factor eating questionnaire to measure dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger. J Psychosom Res 29: 71–83

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Schweiger, U., Tuschl, R.J., Laessle, R.G., Broocks, A., Pirke, K.M. (1989). Consequences of Dieting and Exercise on Menstrual Function in Normal Weight Young Women. In: Pirke, K.M., Wuttke, W., Schweiger, U. (eds) The Menstrual Cycle and Its Disorders. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74631-4_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74631-4_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-50975-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-74631-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics