Female Athlete Triad

Health and mental professionals have been aware of the concept female athlete triad and the risks posed to all females. Females who tend to play sports or exercise intensely are at greater risk of developing female athlete triad. Some of you may be wondering, what is female athlete triad? Female athlete triad was identified 1992 as the combination of three conditions: disordered eating, loss of bone density or osteoporosis and loss of menstrual periods. Although more commonly characterized with the three conditions, female athlete triad is now characterized on a spectrum. The spectrum allows for relation to varying combinations of three conditions. An individual no longer needs to identify with all three conditions originally identified to female athlete triad.  
It is very common for an individual to be working on improving performance and to be focused on keeping a competitive edge to a point where they are harming themselves. Focus and dedication can become a distraction from messages your body may tell you. For example, your body may tell you to slow down or something is wrong.  Some sports classify athletes by weight class, so weight can become a primary focus in training, putting pressure on an athlete, which presents significant health risks. When an athlete starts cutting food and increases training to lose weight to improve performance, they are doing themselves a disservice. When food is restricted, nutrients are no longer feeding the muscles causing them to weaken. This is a common misconception with athletes restricting themselves in one area, in this case with food, to try and benefit or improve athletic or exercise performance. Diagnosis and treatment of this potentially serious condition is complicated and often requires an interdisciplinary treatment team.
Signs and Symptoms to be aware of (Please consult a professional):

• Weight loss
• ​No periods or irregular
• Fatigue, decreased ability to focus and concentrate
• Stress fractures
• ​Other injuries

Coaches, trainers, dietitians, mental health professionals and medical practitioners who generally come in contact with female athletes should be able to identify at-risk athlete who fall on the spectrum. This is not always the case because not all professionals are aware of female athlete triad and may not know what to look for in a screening. Early screenings and awareness of female athlete triad is important for not only the athlete but the support team around them.
Tips for Female Athlete and exercise enthusiasts:

• Keep track of your periods
• Do not skip meals or snacks
• Visit health and mental professionals (Doctors, Dietitians, Counselors/Therapists)

Written by Amanda Worth, MA

References:
http://www.femaleathletetriad.org/athletes/what-is-the-triad/
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/triad.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5532188/