Dieting and Menstrual Irregularity

Abstract

The presence of menstrual irregularity or frank amenorrhea among patients with eating disorders is well known. It is less clear, however, whether subclinical levels of abnormal eating behavior are associated with a disruption in menstrual cyclicity. In the present study, we assessed the severity of dieting behavior and self-reported menstrual irregularity in 2601 entering college women. More severe levels of dieting behavior were associated significantly with a greater incidence of irregular or absent menses. This disruption in menstrual function was not significantly related to the presence of depression. These observations suggest that dieting behaviors that are not of sufficient severity to meet criteria for a formal eating disorder may nevertheless result in significant menstrual cycle morbidity.