With dreams of Olympic trials and college scholarships in her mind, Hannah joined the track team her freshman year and trained hard to become a lean, strong sprinter. When her coach told her losing a few pounds would improve her performance, she didn't hesitate to start counting calories and increasing the duration of her workouts. She was too busy with practices and meets to notice that her period had stopped - she was more worried about the stress fracture in her ankle slowing her down.
Although Hannah thinks her intense training and disciplined diet are helping her performance, they may actually be hurting her - and her health.
What Is Female Athlete Triad?
There's no doubt about it - playing sports and exercise are part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Girls who play sports are healthier; get better grades; are less likely to experience depression; and use alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs less frequently. But for some girls, not balancing the needs of their bodies and their sports can have major consequences.
Some girls who play sports or exercise are at risk for a problem called female athlete triad. Female athlete triad - also known as female athletic triad - is a combination of three conditions: disordered eating, amenorrhea (pronounced: ay-meh-nuh-ree-uh, which means loss of a girl's period), and osteoporosis (a weakening of the bones). A female athlete can have one, two, or all three parts of the triad.
Triad Factor #1: Disordered Eating
Girls who have the disordered eating that accompanies female athlete triad often have many of the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, such as low body weight for their height and age and episodes of binge eating and purging. But girls with female athlete triad try to lose weight primarily to improve their athletic performance. Sometimes the disordered eating that accompanies this condition isn't technically an eating disorder. Many girls with female athlete triad are simply trying to become better at their chosen sports. But like teens with eating disorders, girls with female athlete triad may use behaviors such as calorie restriction, purging, and exercise to lose weight.
Triad Factor #2: Amenorrhea
Because a girl with female athlete triad is simultaneously exercising intensely and reducing her weight, she may experience decreases in estrogen, the hormone that helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. As a result, a girl's periods may become irregular or stop altogether. (In many cases, of course, a missed period indicates another medical condition - pregnancy. If you have missed a period and you are sexually active, you should talk to your doctor.) Some girls who participate intensively in sports may never even get their first period because they've been training so hard - this is called primary amenorrhea. Other girls may have had periods, but once they increase their training and change their eating habits, their periods may stop - this is called secondary amenorrhea.
Triad Factor #3: Osteoporosis
Low estrogen levels and poor nutrition can also lead to osteoporosis, the third aspect of the triad. Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones due to the loss of bone density and improper bone formation. This condition can ruin a female athlete's career because it may lead to stress fractures and other injuries due to weakened bones. Because of poor nutrition, a girl's body may not be able to repair the injuries efficiently.
Usually, the teen years are a time when girls should be building up their bone mass to their highest levels - called peak bone mass. Female athlete triad can lead to a lower level of peak bone mass and a lot of time on the sidelines. After she becomes an adult, a girl may also develop health problems related to osteoporosis at an earlier age than she would have otherwise. |
