Female Athlete Triad

Young women who exercise tend to notice better grades, and increased energy. They are also less likely to experience depression, use alcohol, or succumb to other pressures of growing up and becoming a woman. However, some female athletics are susceptible to a problem called female athlete triad. Female athlete triad occurs when a female exercises intensely without properly eating afterwards to help fulfill the energy that was used. There are three main factors that take place:

Factor #1: Disordered Eating
When dieting, a young female usually tries to avoid consuming any foods with carbohydrates and other fats. Carbohydrates and fatty acids are actually essential in helping the body grow. When trying to lose weight, it is vital to keep carbohydrates and fatty acids in your diet but in proportion, which will still allow weight loss. The lack of proper nutrition can cause unnatural weight loss, which can make an individual very ill.

Factor #2: Amenorrhea
When young women exercise without proper dieting techniques the body begins to lose weight at an efficient pace and estrogen levels drop. Estrogen is the hormone that assists in regulating the menstrual cycle and when it drops too much your period can become irregular or stop completely. Although missing a menstrual cycle may not directly harm an individual, having a period is an essential part of the female's development and maturation.

Factor #3: Osteoporosis
Low estrogen levels and poor nutrition, especially low calcium intake can assist in the development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the weakening of the bones due to the loss of bone density and improper bone formation. This condition can ruin a young female's exercise schedule or athletic career because it may lead to stress fractures and other injuries. The later teen years for a female are most important because it is when bone mass should built up to their highest levels. Not getting enough calcium while the body is maturing can have a lasting effect on how strong the bones will be later on in life.

Tips for female athletes and proper exercising schedules:

• Keep track of your periods.
• Do not skip meals or snacks.
• Visit a dietician, nutritionist or speak with your physician about proper nutrition and exercising.
• Do it for you!