Younger athletes are often cheered for having an almost single-minded focus on success on the field, but for female athletes in particular, that mindset is contributing to a dangerous trend. Female Athlete Triad Syndrome, a serious illness that can lead to long-term health complications, is becoming more prevalent among adolescent female athletes, according to the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.
What is Triad Syndrome?
Triad Syndrome has three components, including eating disorders, amenorrhea (an altered menstruation cycle brought on by poor malnutrition or intense training that upsets hormone levels) and osteoporosis brought on by poor nutrition. According to a recent American College of Sports Medicine study published in the Clinical Journal, up to 78 percent of young athletes suffer from one of more of the three components of Triad Syndrome which puts both their current and future health at risk.
How Triad Syndrome develops
For most syndrome sufferers, the gateway comes via a suggestion to drop weight to increase performance. That can lead to not eating enough calories to keep up with healthy energy demands or avoiding certain foods they think have unwanted fat or carbohydrate levels even though a body performing at peak levels needs fats and carbohydrates to “fuel the engine.” Sometimes, this sort of “food paranoia” can lead to eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, the study found.
Long-term implications
If the athlete isn’t getting needed nutrients like calcium, it could lead to osteoporosis which can weaken bones and leave the sufferer susceptible to bone breaks and other musculoskeletal injuries. For most girls, their teens are when they should be building their bone mass levels. Even if they avoid immediate injury, Triad Syndrome-related osteoporosis could be make them vulnerable to bone problems later in life.
What to watch for
The signs that your young athlete may be veering into dangerous territory are easy to spot for vigilant parents: They range from rapid weight loss in already healthy child and fatigue to a decreased ability to concentrate or a rash of unusually bad luck in the injury department. Your athlete may display any of these symptoms and be completely fine, but it never hurts to check with a doctor to make sure.
The American College of Sports Medicine also has tips for female athletes to avoid Triad Syndrome:
- Track your cycle.
Between school, practice, competitions and other commitments, it’s easy to lose track of menstruation. When you embark on an intense training period, keep track of flows on a calendar. Also keep track of the nature of bleeding, whether it’s heavy or light. If you start missing periods, you can ease up on your training regimen. At the very least, if you seek medical opinion, you’ll be able to give your doctor accurate information.
- For Pete’s sake, eat!
Don’t skip meals, no matter how busy you are or how much you think those extra few pounds are slowing you down. In truth, it’s that energy reserve that is probably most responsible for your best performances. If your schedule is still overwhelming, snack on power foods like fruits and nuts, raw vegetables or carb-packed bagels.
- Lean on experts.
Consult a dietician or nutritionist, or even your family doctor when you dive into training. Some schools actually provide access to these professionals as part of their athletic programs. They can help you continue to perform at peak levels while making sure you remain healthy on and off the field.
