How Does My Weight Impact My Period?
Being very overweight, underweight, and gaining or losing weight rapidly can all affect your period, causing it to be irregular, heavy, or in some cases, to stop altogether.
In this article, we consider some of the possible ways your weight can impact your period health and recommend some helplines if you are concerned about any of the issues raised.
Can being overweight affect my periods?
Yes. The fat cells in your body store estrogen. The greater these stores, the more likely you are to suffer from estrogen dominance in the body. This can cause heavy, frequent, and painful periods. It can also lead to breast pain and bloating. Unfortunately, estrogen dominance can also make losing weight more difficult. However, being very overweight can also cause periods to stop altogether. There is not exact weight at which this happens, but it seems that people with a BMI above 35 may experience amenorrhea – a loss of period for over 6 months
Can being underweight affect my periods?
Absolutely. Being underweight has the opposite effect on estrogen storage than being overweight, leaving your body with not enough place to store estrogen. This can lead to symptoms of low estrogen including: light and infrequent periods, irritability, sensitive or acne prone skin, hair loss, and symptoms usually associated with menopause such as vaginal dryness and lack of libido. Moreover, being underweight puts the body into a “survival mode”, this causes it to release stress hormones that impact the menstrual cycle and overall wellbeing. Below a certain weight and BMI, people are likely to experience amenorrhea – a loss of periods for over 6 months
Can my diet affect my period?
Yes. Diets that are high in processed and sugary foods and refined carbohydrates can cause hormonal imbalances. Eating high glycaemic index foods (e.g., sugary foods, white bread) causes insulin to be released in the body to clear the blood of sugars. Insulin can exert an endocrine effect on the body, i.e., can influence hormonal balance. Insulin is thought to influence the ovaries and cause them to release androgens. People with excess androgen can experience a range of problems (similar to those suffered by people with polycystic ovary syndrome) such as acne, excess hair growth, and trouble losing weight.
Can weight loss or weight gain affect my periods?
Yes, if this happens rapidly. The menstrual cycle is a delicate system of regulated hormone release. Gaining weight rapidly or losing weight rapidly will cause a hormonal imbalance that will impact your overall health and your period. If you gain weight, rapidly from a normal weight you may begin to experience heavier and more frequent periods, however, over a certain BMI you may experience a loss of periods altogether. These will come back if you lose weight. If you lose weight rapidly when you are a normal weight, you may begin to experience irregular periods. Under a certain weight, you may stop getting periods altogether. Not having a period for over 6 months is known as amenorrhea and can cause long-lasting damage to your health. Your period will usually return when you regain weight, but this can
take some time. Any weight loss or gain should be undertaken healthily, and preferably with the help of a professional dietician so that you can avoid creating dramatic hormone imbalances in the body.
Can eating disorders affect my period?
Yes, they can. Being underweight or overweight due to disordered eating will impact your hormone balance and may cause irregular periods, frequent periods, or loss of periods. Moreover, fluctuations in weight that are associated with some eating disorders, even if your weight always remains within a normal BMI range, can result in your period becoming irregular or stopping completely. This is both because of hormone imbalance and also as you are placing the body under increased. The stress and anxiety involved in having an eating disorder can also cause the release of stress hormones and cause the body to shut down all unessential systems to conserve energy for survival.
Can exercise affect my period?
Yes. Athletes often experience loss of periods due to low weight and stresses on the body that lead to low fat percentages. Overexercising, which can be associated with an eating disorder, can also result in increased stress and weight loss that leads to amenorrhea – a loss of periods for over 6 months.
What should I do if I suspect that my weight is affecting my period?
If you suspect that your weight is affecting your period, you should visit your GP to establish whether there are any underlying causes for your weight or period irregularities. If low or high weight is to blame for your period irregularities, you can take some steps towards managing your diet in a way that will help you gain or lose weight accordingly: seek out the advice of a dietician; start a new health eating plan; join a gym; enquire about a personal trainer; take up healthy pastimes such as jogging or walking.
If you are suffering from an eating disorder, you will need additional support to overcome the behaviours that are impacting your weight. This may involve seeing a dietician and a psychotherapist. You may find cognitive behavioural therapy useful to help you overcome engrained unhealthy eating habits.
There are many sources online that offer information about dealing with weight issues. However, there is also a lot of misinformation out there. If you are not sure about where to go for the best advice, you should ask a parent, guardian, or GP to help you navigate the internet safely.
Here are some reliable and helpful websites to get your started:
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/treatment/
https://www.obesityuk.org.uk/ https://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/changes-in-your-weight-and-missing-your-period-4105209
https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/periods/could-your-weight-be-affecting-your-periods/