Understanding
The Female Athletic Triad

By: By: Joseph. P. Cannon, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT

Female athletic triad is a syndrome of three distinct but often related medical disorders that are observed in adolescent and young adult female athletes. The syndromes comprising female athletic triad are:

· Disordered eating patterns
· Amenorrhea
· Osteoporosis

These three issues are of growing concern, especially due to the increasing pressure on adolescent girls to be thin.

In women who develop female athletic triad, excessive exercise or inadequate nutrition affects the ovaries, which in turn reduce estrogen output. The reduced estrogen levels in turn affect the bones such that overtime women develop osteoporosis.

Individuals at risk for female athletic triad include women who participate in sports, especially those who at the same time strive for thinness in hopes of performing better. These women are overly concerned with weight, food, and body shape. 

Activities where female athletic triad may be observed include but are not limited to gymnasts, ice skaters, swimmers, and long distance runners. It is unknown how many females may be afflicted with this disorder. 

Female athletic triad can result in long term health problems. For example, failure to develop strong bones during youth will result in weaker bones later in life. Female athletic triad is best battled through knowledge of the disorder coupled with the intervention of family, friends and ones physician. 

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Joseph P. Cannon, MS, is an exercise physiologist, personal trainer, writer and lecturer who resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He holds an M.S. degree in Health and Physical Education and a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Biology. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a personal trainer certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He lectures on personal training, nutrition and holistic medicine at the local and national levels for the American Aerobics Association International / International Sports Medicine Association (AAAI / ISMA) as well as to other groups who seek his expertise.
Email: JoeCannon@rcn.com

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