How is the female athlete triad related to osteopenia and early bone loss?
The female athlete triad is a combination of three medical conditions that are becoming increasingly common in women athletes. These conditions are eating disorders, amenorrhea or lack of menstrual periods, and osteopenia or low bone mass. These issues are of growing concern mainly because of the media’s increased pressure on teens to maintain a “perfect” body weight and be thin. Female athletes who compete in gymnastics, dancing, swimming, skating, and running are at high risk for the female athlete triad as they strive to appear lean and fit. We know that more female athletes lack a menstrual period than women in the general population. Not having a period is associated with decreased estrogen levels. Decreased estrogen levels may be the cause of low bone mass or osteopenia. Low-calorie diets are usually the first predictor of eating disorders. Excessive exercise or exercise obsession can be another sign of an eating disorder. Each of these three problems must be medically evaluated
