How Is Female Athlete Triad Treated?
If you are a female athlete, it’s important to minimize your risks as much as you can. For instance, be vigilant of training’s effects on the body. Take action if you lose menstrual periods or if your body fat decreases significantly. Athletes with menstrual disorders have lower estrogen levels, which often leads to lower bone mass. Findings show that a young woman who hasn’t menstruated in four years may have the bone density of a 50-year-old woman. Be sure to increase calcium in your diet (or through supplements), and eat enough calories to keep your body fat or weight from dropping too low. Extreme leanness — body fat below 12% for the teenage female athlete — is incompatible with strong bones.
