Your Risk for Amenorrhea: Professions
While it may seem like a break from your period woes, secondary amenorrhea, better known as period loss, is a serious health condition. Left untreated, amenorrhea can lead to bone loss, osteoporosis and infertility, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Unfortunately, women in certain professions that demand a thin and often lean body type face a higher risk for this condition. To maintain the physique demanded by their profession, women may use inappropriate dietary measures, such as fasting or extreme exercise, to stay slim.
Professions That Promote Amenorrhea
As a rule of thumb, any profession that demands women maintain a certain physique, either for performance or aesthetic reasons, are also professions that can increase the risk for amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is often a symptom of an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa.
Professions that can promote eating habits that cause amenorrhea include:
1. Acting. Actresses often face peer pressure to look slim or lean. In some instances, actresses can lose out on key roles simply because their body type isn't preferred by a director. As a consequence, many actresses severely restrict their caloric intake to stay underweight.
2. Gymnastics. For gymnasts, maintaining a girlish, thin physique is necessary for women to stay competitive; unfortunately, these characteristics aren't natural for girls going through puberty. As a result, eating disorders and amenorrhea are remarkably high in gymnasts. The saddest example of this, as referenced by Vanderbilt University, was seen in Olympic gymnast Christy Henrich, who was told she had to lose weight if she wanted to become a part of the Olympic team. She died from multiple organ failure in 1994--a complication of severe anorexia nervosa.
3. Running. Competitive running can attract women with personalities predisposed to disordered eating, which carries the risk of amenorrhea. In turn, being leaner also helps runners become faster, so many women try to stay lean to get an edge on the competition. This can lead to dangerous dieting and exercise behavior, causing them to eventually lose their periods.
4. Dancing and cheerleading. Being thinner is the winner when it comes to competitive dancing or cheerleading--and unfortunately, this can cause women to restrict their dietary intake or exercise for hours. In some cases, dance coaches punish women or prevent them from doing certain moves because of their weight.
Other professions where amenorrhea can be a risk also includes many athletics, especially those where speed is a big concern.
More from this contributor:
How to Avoid Amenorrhea While Dieting
Drugs that Cause Amenorrhea, or Period Loss
The Dieter's Guide to Preventing Amenorrhea
Sources:
Mayo Clinic Staff, "Amenorrhea: Complications," MayoClinic.com
Ana Cintado, "Why are Eating Disorders More Prevalent About Athletes in General?"
Unfortunately, women in certain professions that demand a thin and often lean body type face a higher risk for this condition. To maintain the physique demanded by their profession, women may use inappropriate dietary measures, such as fasting or extreme exercise, to stay slim.
Professions That Promote Amenorrhea
As a rule of thumb, any profession that demands women maintain a certain physique, either for performance or aesthetic reasons, are also professions that can increase the risk for amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is often a symptom of an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa.
Professions that can promote eating habits that cause amenorrhea include:
1. Acting. Actresses often face peer pressure to look slim or lean. In some instances, actresses can lose out on key roles simply because their body type isn't preferred by a director. As a consequence, many actresses severely restrict their caloric intake to stay underweight.
2. Gymnastics. For gymnasts, maintaining a girlish, thin physique is necessary for women to stay competitive; unfortunately, these characteristics aren't natural for girls going through puberty. As a result, eating disorders and amenorrhea are remarkably high in gymnasts. The saddest example of this, as referenced by Vanderbilt University, was seen in Olympic gymnast Christy Henrich, who was told she had to lose weight if she wanted to become a part of the Olympic team. She died from multiple organ failure in 1994--a complication of severe anorexia nervosa.
3. Running. Competitive running can attract women with personalities predisposed to disordered eating, which carries the risk of amenorrhea. In turn, being leaner also helps runners become faster, so many women try to stay lean to get an edge on the competition. This can lead to dangerous dieting and exercise behavior, causing them to eventually lose their periods.
4. Dancing and cheerleading. Being thinner is the winner when it comes to competitive dancing or cheerleading--and unfortunately, this can cause women to restrict their dietary intake or exercise for hours. In some cases, dance coaches punish women or prevent them from doing certain moves because of their weight.
Other professions where amenorrhea can be a risk also includes many athletics, especially those where speed is a big concern.
More from this contributor:
How to Avoid Amenorrhea While Dieting
Drugs that Cause Amenorrhea, or Period Loss
The Dieter's Guide to Preventing Amenorrhea
Sources:
Mayo Clinic Staff, "Amenorrhea: Complications," MayoClinic.com
Ana Cintado, "Why are Eating Disorders More Prevalent About Athletes in General?"
Published by Ann Olson - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
When I'm not lifting 200 lbs. off the ground with my bare hands, I moonlight as a freelance reporter and diet consultant. What I do: I write regular diet and exercise-oriented columns for Yahoo! Sports, Yah... View profile
- Eating Disorder Recovery and GeneticsIt is common knowledge that genetics plays a role in the development of anorexia and bulimia. Genes may also influence the success of eating disorder recovery.
- Why Eating Disorder Treatment Centers Need Physical Fitness Exercise ProgramsIf your teen has been referred to an eating disorder treatment center, here is what you need to know about the elements of care that should be provided in the facility.
- Do You Know Someone with an Eating Disorder?Eating disorders are closely associated with deep-seated feelings of disgrace, secrecy & denial.
- 10 Signs Your Teen Could Have an Eating DisorderIn an image-obsessed world, eating disorders are at an all time high, especially among teenagers. If you're worried that your teen could have an eating disorder, here are ten signs and symptoms to look for.
- Eating Disorder, How to React as the FamilyAn article for the families of people suffering from eating disorders, how you can help them cope with this life threatening problem.
- Binge Eating Disorder
- When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder: How to Help
- Newest Study: Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is America's #1 Eating Disorder
- Diabulimia is an Extremely Dangerous Eating Disorder for Diabetics
- All About Binge Eating Disorder
- 5 Things Not to Say to Someone Recovering from an Eating Disorder
- Demi Lovato Visits Eating Disorder Center After Rehab