Anorexia Nervosa: The Eating Disorder Most Likely to Cause Amenorrhea
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4 min read
While not a required diagnostic criterion since the DSM-5, a high percentage of females with anorexia nervosa experience amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation. It is understood that severe caloric restriction and malnutrition, hallmark behaviors of anorexia, disrupt the body’s hormonal balance, leading to the cessation of the menstrual cycle. This physiological shutdown is a survival mechanism, as the body conserves energy when it perceives it is under threat.
