I first heard about Female Athlete Triad Syndrome a few months ago from one of the female running coaches at my gym. However, after doing my own research, I discovered this syndrome has been an issue for quite some time. I was surprised to read that the women suffering from this condition are quite athletic in nature and truly embrace their sport, many times to the point of obsession. While appearing to be the picture of health, these young women often lead a secret life of calorie restriction and over-exercising. In doing so, they believe this will give them an added edge to be the best of the best in their chosen sport. So what exactly is Female Athlete Triad Syndrome? It is a disorder involving three conditions as a consequence of calorie restriction and over-exercising.
Research shows that 12-15% of elite athletes suffer from this condition; however, it is not unheard of in the general population, where it may affect as many as 5% of the normal active female population. As with others suffering from eating disorders, low self-esteem and the need to be the best in their sport is what drives many of these young women to an unhealthy means of controlling their weight. And this condition is becoming more prevalent in young teens, especially those participating in competitive sports such as gymnastics, soccer, ice skating, and dance. So who is at risk for the development of Female Athlete Triad Syndrome?
What are the signs and symptoms?
If this syndrome is not detected early enough, many of these young ladies could experience such complications as decreased serum estrogen levels, irreversible bone loss, and yes, even development of increased cardiac risk factors. This syndrome, like any other eating disorder, should be approached with extreme care and immediacy. Getting help for these women and girls is essential to their success and requires an intervention by a doctor, behavior therapist, dietitian or all of the above. Do you believe society puts too much emphasis on young women to be the best in their chosen sport, therefore causing them to be driven to such drastic measures? What about the pressure from parents and coaches? Have you ever suffered from this syndrome, or do you know of anyone who has or is currently suffering from this syndrome?
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This is not good but it is no different from previous decades when primarily men (and women, too) who were engaged in certain sports abused their bodies with steroid use, etc.
Not every athletic female is abusing her body and women have a right to participate in and enjoy athletics and pay attention to their diets in public.
I agree that the syndrome exists in men and women, I would just like to see the hysteria about it tempered so that active women can relax and be themselves while addressing the need to train and eat in the proper manner. Report
Last fall, once school started again, I reduced my exercise by a lot and starting eating more fats and sugars. I gained some weight but I also started menstruating again. I would have thought I was healthier in the spring/summer of last year because I was more fit. At the time I didn't think I was overexercising and, considering I was in the mid-range of my BMI, I thought I was at a healthy weight (now I am in the higher end of my healthy BMI range). But if I stopped menstruating then my body must have disagreed. I guess I have to find a happy medium. Report
The world's people have done this to our young girls not only in Sports but in Entertainment. A great dis-service has been done. One that needs to be stopped. Report
Our athletes are helped a lot by their coaches, who try to balance the weight 'requirements' with safety and common sense; it's the others who concern me most.
Perennially on the other side of the spectrum myself, I'm not the best role model or helper for such, but I try to keep eyes open for material like this, something my students might actually relate to.
As always, thanks for the timely and useful information. Report
I've enjoyed reading the comments from all.
Paula Report
A good performace becomes a natural byproduct of a good self image rather than a perfect performance being needed to uphold a fragil (and yet could be very high, just not strong) self image. When perfection isnt met...its perceived as proof of failure and there comes the drive to push even more. Report
See, (maybe I am wrong Im going from 25 yr old memory here) I was under the impression that the being "under nurished" in Female ATS was result of over exercising (cals in vs cals out, cals out wins) or from whatever else contributors but the result is completely without essential oils and fats...under-nurished......and THEN that from being under nurished with continued very high ATP (energy production) requirments......that caused the secondary amenorrhea and severe Osteoporosis because **without nutrition the body uses ITSELF for its energy.**
Female ATS being severe and rather acute lowered constitution and extreme supseptability to injury (bone) where further performance or competition may result in fatality or permenant bodily system damage.
Being obsessive about diet...
Being obsessive about exercise...
Being obsessive about physical self image, or performance...
Without Balance there is disorder...yes if any one thing goes too far it can manifest as a FATAL DISORDER, but Female ATS is when one's excessively extreme althletic lifestyle uses up a significantly more amount of (uses itself for) nutrients than the body is able to stock or readily supply.......(which is usually directly related to one's diet,) this accourance frequently repeated enough to weaken the body...possibly beyond repair. So pile on an eating disorder too...(potentially fatal even without frequent demands of high ATP)....and thats definatly a recipie for disaster. Report
My thoughts & prayers are with those who have family or friends struggling with this. Report
That being said, my weight loss did cause my periods to stop because of low estrogen levels. It has been months since I stopped my weight loss, and I am still trying to fix that problem (don't worry I have seen a doctor and am working on it). This does make me worry that it could also have affected other areas of my health. Report