What Causes Female Athlete Triad Syndrome?
The pressure to compete successfully in sports plays a major role. Female athlete triad syndrome is more common in women who participate in sports that emphasize leanness such as ballet, gymnastics, figure skating, and distance running. Many feel an intense desire to perform well in their sport. Like women who suffer from anorexia, those with female athlete triad syndrome are often “perfectionists” who may have a low self-esteem which drives them to take extreme measures to be successful in their sport – and to stay thin.
