In athletic adolescents, what lean body mass percentage is associated with maintaining regular ovulatory cycles?

In athletic adolescents, what lean body mass percentage is associated with maintaining regular ovulatory cycles?

• A. 60 percent
• B. 75 percent or less
• C. 85 percent
• D. 90 percent

Answer: (B)

Regular ovulatory cycles in athletic adolescents depend on enough energy availability to support hypothalamic signaling for ovulation. Fat mass provides signals (like leptin) that tell the brain there’s enough energy to reproduce, so the reproductive axis can stay active. Lean body mass percentage describes how much of the body is lean tissue versus fat. When this percentage is about three-quarters or less of total body mass, there is typically sufficient fat stores to support normal GnRH pulsatility and ovulation. If lean mass percentage were higher (indicating very low fat stores), energy deficiency can blunt the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and lead to irregular or absent ovulation. Therefore, a lean body mass percentage of roughly 75% or less is the pattern associated with maintaining regular ovulatory cycles in athletic adolescents.

Regular ovulatory cycles in athletic adolescents depend on enough energy availability to support hypothalamic signaling for ovulation. Fat mass provides signals (like leptin) that tell the brain there’s enough energy to reproduce, so the reproductive axis can stay active.

Lean body mass percentage describes how much of the body is lean tissue versus fat. When this percentage is about three-quarters or less of total body mass, there is typically sufficient fat stores to support normal GnRH pulsatility and ovulation. If lean mass percentage were higher (indicating very low fat stores), energy deficiency can blunt the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and lead to irregular or absent ovulation. Therefore, a lean body mass percentage of roughly 75% or less is the pattern associated with maintaining regular ovulatory cycles in athletic adolescents.