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What Biologically Differentiates Female With Anorexia From A Female That Has Not Completed Puberty?
Question: Hi,
If an adult female develops anorexia having completed puberty and is emaciated after very significant fat loss, with typical symptoms that include secondary amenorrhea, and regression of secondary sex characteristics (like body fat, breast regression and pubic hair) as well as bone loss, what biologically differentiates them from a female that has not completed puberty?
It seems clear that they would still remain as biological adults regardless of their symptoms, is this correct? If so how is this explained scientifically?
If an adult female develops anorexia having completed puberty and is emaciated after very significant fat loss, with typical symptoms that include secondary amenorrhea, and regression of secondary sex characteristics (like body fat, breast regression and pubic hair) as well as bone loss, what biologically differentiates them from a female that has not completed puberty?
It seems clear that they would still remain as biological adults regardless of their symptoms, is this correct? If so how is this explained scientifically?
Brief Answer:
Scientific explanation endocrine change the hormone change
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your question. Hope my answer will help you well.
For an adult female develops anorexia nervosa and experiences significant symptoms that physical and physiological changes remain a biological adult. This can be explained by several processes of biological and developmental factors. For completion of puberty there are physical development that get involved from hormonal shifts that lead to the development of sexual characteristics such as breast development, pubic hair, and the distribution of body fat. Once these changes have occurred and a female reaches reproductive maturity it is typically marked by menarche, the first menstrual period. So puberty is considered complete.
The hormones involved: there estrogen and progesterone hormone, gonadotropin releasing hormone during puberty those hormone levels increase that drive the development of secondary sexual characteristics and regulate menstrual cycles.
Secondary Amenorrhea and regression of secondary sexual characteristics could be caused from anorexia nervosa and its effect. Because the level of estrogen is decreasing, her weight loss and malnutrition are also caused by Anorexia nervosa.
Bone density loss due to estrogen is low because anorexia can lead to osteopenia or osteoporosis. This bone loss is a consequence of malnutrition rather than an indication of incomplete puberty.
Scientific explanation: Endocrine change the hormone changes that occur in anorexia nervosa are due to the body’s response to extreme energy deficit. The hypothalamus reduces the release of GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone ) which in turn decreases the level of LH and FSH from the ovaries. This hormone suppression is a survival mechanism in response to starvation but does not indicate a return to a pre-puberty state.
Fat loss is from tissue and organ response to loss of body fat, breast tissue, and pubic hair is a result of the body prioritizing essential functions over reproductive and secondary sexual characteristics during extreme energy deficit.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Heang Chan Raksmey, General and Family Physician
Scientific explanation endocrine change the hormone change
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your question. Hope my answer will help you well.
For an adult female develops anorexia nervosa and experiences significant symptoms that physical and physiological changes remain a biological adult. This can be explained by several processes of biological and developmental factors. For completion of puberty there are physical development that get involved from hormonal shifts that lead to the development of sexual characteristics such as breast development, pubic hair, and the distribution of body fat. Once these changes have occurred and a female reaches reproductive maturity it is typically marked by menarche, the first menstrual period. So puberty is considered complete.
The hormones involved: there estrogen and progesterone hormone, gonadotropin releasing hormone during puberty those hormone levels increase that drive the development of secondary sexual characteristics and regulate menstrual cycles.
Secondary Amenorrhea and regression of secondary sexual characteristics could be caused from anorexia nervosa and its effect. Because the level of estrogen is decreasing, her weight loss and malnutrition are also caused by Anorexia nervosa.
Bone density loss due to estrogen is low because anorexia can lead to osteopenia or osteoporosis. This bone loss is a consequence of malnutrition rather than an indication of incomplete puberty.
Scientific explanation: Endocrine change the hormone changes that occur in anorexia nervosa are due to the body’s response to extreme energy deficit. The hypothalamus reduces the release of GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone ) which in turn decreases the level of LH and FSH from the ovaries. This hormone suppression is a survival mechanism in response to starvation but does not indicate a return to a pre-puberty state.
Fat loss is from tissue and organ response to loss of body fat, breast tissue, and pubic hair is a result of the body prioritizing essential functions over reproductive and secondary sexual characteristics during extreme energy deficit.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Heang Chan Raksmey, General and Family Physician
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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