Ideas in this flowchart

• Protein deficiency can impair reproductive function and growth.
• Reproductive effects
• Protein deficiency impairs the release of gonadal hormones.
• Impaired gonadal-hormone release can prevent reproduction.
• Athletic teenage girls with very little body fat often do not menstruate.
• Growth effects
• Malnourished children usually do not produce enough growth hormone.
• Insufficient growth hormone can prevent children from reaching normal height for their age group.