Extreme Fitness Pushes Young Woman's Body to Breaking Point
A 23-year-old woman from Zhejiang province in eastern China has shared a shocking health story that went viral across social media platforms. Her intense exercise routine, performed six times weekly, completely stopped her menstrual cycle. This personal account ignited widespread discussions about balancing fitness goals with bodily health.
From Binge Eating to Fitness Obsession
The woman previously weighed approximately 65 kilograms due to patterns of binge eating. In recent months, she developed a strong obsession with fitness and weight loss. She committed to exercising for about 70 minutes per session, maintaining this rigorous schedule six days every week.
Over time, she noticed her periods becoming significantly lighter. Eventually, they lasted only two hours before stopping entirely. Alongside this, she began suffering from insomnia and various hormonal problems.
Medical Diagnosis Reveals Severe Hormonal Drop
Hospital tests conducted in China revealed alarming results. Her female hormone levels had plummeted to those typically seen in a 50-year-old woman. Medical professionals diagnosed her with signs of kidney deficiency, a condition recognized in traditional Chinese medicine.
Doctors advised her to immediately halt all exercise activities for a period. They prescribed several traditional Chinese medicine treatments aimed at regulating her body's systems and restoring balance.
Understanding Exercise Associated Amenorrhea
According to Dr. Fan Yibing, a senior gynaecologist at Zhejiang Zhongshan Hospital, the woman's condition is medically known as Exercise Associated Amenorrhea. Dr. Fan explained to the South China Morning Post that this occurs when a person's energy intake becomes too low while energy expenditure remains very high due to intense physical activity.
"When the body senses an energy shortage, it temporarily shuts down reproductive functions to protect basic survival," Dr. Fan stated. The brain reduces secretion of gonadotrophins, which leads to lower female hormone levels and stops ovulation. Consequently, menstruation may become irregular or cease completely.
Reflections and Warnings
Reflecting on her painful experience, the woman said pushing her body too hard felt like destroying something valuable in pursuit of short-term gains. Her story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone pursuing aggressive fitness regimens without proper medical guidance.
Expert Insights on Healthy Body Fat Percentages
Dr. Manish Joshi, Additional Director of Surgical Gastroenterology, Bariatric and Robotic Surgery at Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru, emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate body fat for women's health.
"For women, a body fat percentage of about 17% is considered the absolute minimum for the body to function in a healthy and hormonally balanced manner," Dr. Joshi explained. "A certain amount of fat supports the production of oestrogen, which plays a crucial role in regulating the menstrual cycle, ovulation, bone health, fertility, and overall hormonal stability."
He expressed concern about modern trends, noting that extreme weight loss and fat-loss challenges are leading many women to unknowingly reduce their body fat below healthy thresholds.
"When body fat becomes too low, it may cause missed periods, infertility, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, hair loss, mood changes, and long-term risks like osteoporosis," Dr. Joshi warned.
He offered crucial advice for sustainable health: "The right way to lose fat is to do it slowly under medical supervision, with the focus being on metabolic and hormonal health in the long run, not just for appearance."
This case highlights the delicate balance between fitness aspirations and physiological limits, reminding us that health should never be sacrificed for aesthetic goals.
