Female Athlete Triad | Suite101.com

HBO's Real Sports program, recently reported on a little known disorder called THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD. It was a very interesting program, investigating an often overlooked, but very destructive condition known as the Female Athlete Triad.

So what is the triad? Essentially, these are the three phases which make up the Female Athlete Triad.

A. Disordered Eating, combined with excessive exercise & training. B. Secondary Amenorrhea (lack of menstrual cycle) C. Osteoporosis and stress fractures Here's how it works. Young women, pursuing a competitive sport, often fall into the dangerous trap of disordered eating and excessive exercise. This can lead to a low body weight, which in turn can lead to amenorrhea (lack of menstrual cycle). When the menstrual cycle ceases for more than a few months, the female body's production and regulation of progestrone and estrogen are interrupted. The result can be a devastating loss of bone density, leading to frequent stress fractures and severe osteoporosis. Health professionals have long been aware that eating disorders alone can lead to many health problems, one of which is loss of bone density. They are also aware that even the healthiest female athletes put a tremendous amount of stress on their bodies. However, the increased risk arises when the two are combined. Disordered eating along with excessive strenuous exercise are the factors which create the Female Athlete Triad.

HBO's Real Sports explains the Triad as follows: Female Triad Disorder- It strikes at female athletes who train hard and push their bodies to the limits of endurance, but few people know about Feamle Triad Disorder. It begins when an athlete's eating patterns and intense training regimen cause a women to lose her menstrual cycle for three months or more, preventing sufficent amounts of estrogen from reaching bones and causing them to brittle over time. The results, such as osteoporosis or bone loss, can be debilitating.

Back in July 1996, Angela Smith of The Physician and Sports Medicine, wrote of the triad. "The female athlete triad of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis affects women and girls in many sports, but the messages conveyed to those in "appearance" sports like gymnastics may play a role. Because the triad may result in irreversible bone loss and death, early detection is imperative. Friends, parents, coaches, and physicians can be alert to behaviors like eating alone, trips to the bathroom during or after meals, and the use of laxatives. Other signs and symptoms of the female athlete triad may include fatigue, anemia, depression, cold intolerance, lanugo, and eroded tooth enamel from frequent vomiting. Multidisciplinary treatment typically involves education, determining contributing factors, restoring adequate nutrition, and prescribing estrogen therapy when appropriate." The article continues "Despite the interest in healthy exercise, mixed messages abound. Female competitors are expected to be assertive or even aggressive, yet have the appearance of sweet little girls. They are expected to be tough competitors--and soft-spoken, elegant ladies. Today's "healthy" look is thin, according to society's current definition. Unfortunately, unhealthy behaviors are associated with this very slender appearance. The most touted body image is unattainable by most: slim, androgynous hips combined with voluptuous breasts. The supermodels with their personal trainers and, in some cases, enhanced breasts are the idols of today's teenagers."