THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SECONDARY AMENORRHEA AND COMMON EATING-DISORDERED WEIGHT CONTROL PRACTICES IN AN ADOLESCENT POPULATION

Purpose: This study examined the relative importance of low weight, in contrast with other symptoms of eating disorder, as a determinant of amenorrhea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of student s at Year 10 (mean age 15.0 years) attending 43 schools in the state o f Victoria. Amenorrhea and symptoms of eating disorder were assessed u sing the Branched Eating Disorders Test, administered through the medi um of a notebook computer. Results: The survey response rate was 84% ( n = 886). A total of 23% (n = 205) reported either fasting or purging in the previous month. Secondary amenorrhea of at least 3 months durat ion was reported by 4.1% (n = 35). No statistically significant associ ation was found between amenorrhea and body mass index. In contrast, 4 0% of amenorrheic subjects reported fasting or purging (P = .03), an a ssociation most evident in the heaviest subjects. Conclusion: These fi nding suggests that secondary amenorrhea may develop in normal and abo ve-weight teenagers who engage in eating disordered weight control pra ctices.