Hi Dr. Love,I have a concern that perhaps you can help me with. I have been with my girlfriend for almost 18 months now and love her to death. There is a problem that has come up though. Through the last 6 months she has lost 30 pounds of weight.I finally got her to go see a doctor and he said she isnt anorexic or anything, just lost a lot of weight. At the same time she she stopped having her period. She has missed it like 6 or 8 times.If she puts on more weight will it come back? If so how long will it take for her to be normal again? I plan on ending up with her someday and I think she feels the same. Will I ever have a family?
From the sound of your letter, your girlfriend wasn’t overweight prior to this recent weight loss. We need to know if she has lost the weight intentionally (by starving, using laxatives, or over exercising) or whether the weight came off all by itself.The answer to these questions is vital. If she lost weight without changing her eating or exercise habits, then she needs to be examined thoroughly by a good internist, since that kind of weight loss isn’t normal.If she lost weight intentionally through starving, exercise or use of laxatives, then she does have an eating disorder. In fact, a woman’s period will stop when she loses too much body fat (the period comes back when the amount of body fat returns to normal).It is vital that we find out if her weight loss has been intentional or not. If she’s has caused the weight loss and consequent stoppage of her period, then she needs to get help for her eating disorder. If her weight loss and consequent period stoppage happened without any intervention on her part, then she needs to be more thoroughly evaluated to find out what’s wrong with her health.Please take this issue very seriously. From the sound of your letter, her doctor doesn’t seem concerned. I am concerned and I want you to get a second opinion.
