China woman, 23, develops kidney issues & stops menstruating after exercising 6 times a week while on extreme diet

A 23-year-old woman in China's Zhejiang province stopped menstruating and began showing signs of kidney deficiency after exercising six times a week for a few months.

The woman also suffered from insomnia, China Press reported, adding that a doctor's examination discovered she had a severe endocrine imbalance.

Her estrogen levels were also equivalent to those of a menopausal woman in her late 40s to 50s.

A local obstetrician-gynaecologist suggested that she was experiencing hypothalamic amenorrhea.

According to Cleveland Clinic, it refers to a person's period stopping, with excessive exercise being a common cause.

Excessive exercise

The woman's health issues came after she spent a few months exercising six times a week, for about 70 minutes each time.

According to China Press, the woman revealed in a late 2025 video that she had become obsessed with fitness over the past few months.

She then turned to an extreme low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet combined with high-frequency exercise.

As a result, the woman developed health issues and needed to see a doctor.

City Channel reported that the doctor told the woman to stop working out and prescribed her a large bag of traditional Chinese medicine to help with her recovery.

Chronically low estrogen levels

In light of the woman's health condition, a Chinese hospital's attending physician said that when there is long-term high-intensity training, insufficient calorie intake, and a rapid decrease in body fat percentage, the brain may mistakenly believe that the body has to actively save energy.

She added that the intensity of exercise should be moderate, and it is important to replenish nutrition appropriately, rather than continuously engaging in excessive physical exertion.

Top photos via China Press