Ask the expert: What is the female athlete triad and how can it be prevented?

The spring athletics season is in full swing and for those at the high school and college level, practices and game schedules can be intense. When you blend this physical commitment with the demands of a hectic academic schedule, sometimes maintaining healthy eating habits and positive energy balance can be challenging. Dr. Kathryn Ackerman, medical director of Boston Children’s Female Athlete Program, shares important information about a condition called the female athlete triad and offers tools to keep young athletes healthy, energized and at the top of their game. What is the female athlete triad?  The female athlete triad is a condition of three intertwined health issues: (1) energy availability (caloric balance), (2) menstrual function and (3) bone health. In order to achieve a healthy balance and avoid the triad, Ackerman recommends female athletes follow these important guidelines: •   take in enough quality calories to account for their energy expenditure from daily activities and exercise (energy availability) •   monitor/maintain normal monthly menstrual cycles, and •   through weight-bearing exercise, achieve bone density that is equal to or better than non-active adolescents and teens “Most adolescents don’t care about their bone density until they start experiencing fractures,” says Ackerman, course director of Boston Children’s upcoming  Female Athlete Conference at Babson College. “But we know there can be...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Ask the Expert Female Athlete Program female athlete triad Kathryn Ackerman Source Type: news