Body composition of oligo/amenorrheic athletes

Abstract

Menstrual dysfunction in athletes may be related to low body weight or low body fat content. To investigate the relationship between body composition and menstrual function, body composition was evaluated by hydrostatic weighing in two groups of women: 14 athletes with oligo/amenorrhea and 28 athletes with regular menstruation. Age and height were similar in the two groups. In all of the weight parameters, including total body weight, percent ideal body weight, Livi Index, percent body fat, fat weight, and lean body weight, athletes with oligo/amenorrhea were significantly lighter than athletes with regular menstruation. We concluded that menstrual dysfunction in athletes is associated with low body weight, which is comprised of smaller amounts of both fat and lean body mass.