The female athlete triad is a trifecta of conditions commonly seen in the female athlete. The triad consists of:
- Disordered eating
- Premature osteoporosis
- Ammenorrhea (cessation of menstrual cycle for > three months)
The condition is common in female athletes who participate in sports where body weight is a factor, or who have an unhealthy obsession with aesthetics.
Disordered eating takes the form of both reduced consumption, and increased energy expenditure in an attempt to offset energy intake. In most cases, a diagnosis of an eating disorder is not made, though disordered eating habit are common.
Premature osteoporosis is seen as a result of dropping oestrogen levels, coupled with reduced intake of required vitamins and minerals required to maintain bone mineral density. As a result, bone fractures are common.
The cessation of the menstrual cycle is partly responsible for the reduction of oestrogen production. This drop in production is caused by rapid weight fluctuations reducing the release of the hormones that trigger oestrogen release. Delayed menarche is also often seen in younger athletes for the same reasons. A delay in the development of secondary sexual characteristics is also seen.
Several initiatives can be taken to treat the female athlete triad, including:
- Reducing preoccupations with food, weight and body fat.
- Increasing meals and snacks gradually.
- Rebuilding the body to a healthy weight.
- Establishing regular menstrual cycles.
- Decrease training load.
Affected individuals should seek professional medical advice.
