First, we would like to congratulate anyone who has adopted healthy coping skills for managing their eating disorder, it’s not an easy task, but one that should be celebrated! Eating disorders come in many different forms. In some cases, food restriction plays a major role eating disorders and, it can be very harmful for our bodies. Restriction prevents the body from receiving the proper amount of nutrients it needs to function properly. Without these important nutrients, our bodies go on the defense, slowing down to save energy.
As a result, it’s not uncommon for teens to experience a delayed onset of menses (period starting late) or loss of periods. If this happens, speak to your health care provider (HCP) right away. In most cases, it’s possible to restart the menstrual cycle (period). In order to do this, one must have a healthy weight, which sometimes means some weight gain. Weight gain should only occur with the help and guidance of a health care provider (HCP). If weight gain occurs and the menstrual cycle doesn’t restart within a few months of a having a stable weight, further tests may be needed, possibly including blood work and/or X-rays. Call and schedule an appointment with your health care provider (HCP) to share your concerns and explore options.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.