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Women who have been underweight are 30 per cent more likely to undergo menopause before the age of 45. That’s according to an analysis of data from nearly 79,000 women whose health was tracked for 22 years.

Women in the study were classed as being underweight if they had a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 or lower. Women who fell into this category at any age had, on average,  a 30 per cent increased risk of early menopause, compared with women with a “normal” BMI, between 18.5 and 22.4.

Women who were underweight at the age of 35 had a 59 per cent greater likelihood of early menopause, while women aged 18 who had a BMI less than 17.5 were 50 per cent more likely to have early menopause.

Extreme teenage weight loss seemed to have a particularly strong effect. Underweight women who lost 20 pounds or more at least three times between the ages of 18 and 20 were more than twice as likely to experience premature menopause.

Heart disease risk

“Our findings suggest that women who are underweight in early or mid-adulthood may be at increased risk for early menopause,” says , at the University of Massachusetts, who led the study.

Early menopause affects up to 10 per cent of women, and is linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline. “Underweight women may want to consider discussing the potential implications of these findings with their doctors,” says Szegda.

“The risks of being overweight are generally better understood, but women often don’t realise the potential hormone complications of being very underweight, even in younger years,” says Kathy Abernathy, of the . “The findings of this study highlight the need for women to maintain a healthy weight across all ages.”

Journal reference: Human Reproduction

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