Energy deficiency, menstrual disturbances, and low bone mass: what do exercising Australian women know about the female athlete triad?
نویسندگان
چکیده
PURPOSE Prevention of the female athlete triad is essential to protect female athletes' health. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of regularly exercising adult women in Australia toward eating patterns, menstrual cycles, and bone health. METHODS A total of 191 female exercisers, age 18-40 yr, engaging in ≥2 hr/wk of strenuous activity, completed a survey. After 11 surveys were excluded (due to incomplete answers), the 180 participants were categorized into lean-build sports (n = 82; running/athletics, triathlon, swimming, cycling, dancing, rowing), non-lean-build sports (n = 94; basketball, netball, soccer, hockey, volleyball, tennis, trampoline, squash, Australian football), or gym/fitness activities (n = 4). RESULTS Mean (± SD) training volume was 9.0 ± 5.5 hr/wk, with participants competing from local up to international level. Only 10% of respondents could name the 3 components of the female athlete triad. Regardless of reported history of stress fracture, 45% of the respondents did not think that amenorrhea (absence of menses for ≥3 months) could affect bone health, and 22% of those involved in lean-build sports would do nothing if experiencing amenorrhea (vs. 3.2% in non-lean-build sports, p = .005). Lean-build sports, history of amenorrhea, and history of stress fracture were all significantly associated with not taking action in the presence of amenorrhea (all p < .005). CONCLUSIONS Few active Australian women are aware of the detrimental effects of menstrual dysfunction on bone health. Education programs are needed to prevent the female athlete triad and ensure that appropriate actions are taken by athletes when experiencing amenorrhea.
منابع مشابه
Physiological aspects and clinical sequelae of energy deficiency and hypoestrogenism in exercising women.
Amenorrhoea associated with reduced caloric intake and strenuous exercise leads to hypoestrogenism and is associated with clinical manifestations that include disordered eating, stress fractures, osteoporosis, and, as recently reported, a potential increase in the risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Disordered eating, menstrual irregularities and bone loss comprise the clinical condition ...
متن کاملCurrent perspectives on the etiology and manifestation of the “silent” component of the Female Athlete Triad
The Female Athlete Triad (Triad) represents a syndrome of three interrelated conditions that originate from chronically inadequate energy intake to compensate for energy expenditure; this environment results in insufficient stored energy to maintain physiological processes, a condition known as low energy availability. The physiological adaptations associated with low energy availability, in tu...
متن کاملLong term consequences of the female athlete triad.
In the past 40 years, female sports participation, particularly at the high school level, has significantly increased. Physical activity in females has numerous positive benefits, including improved body image and overall health. Unfortunately, a select population of exercising females may experience symptoms related to the female athlete triad, which refers to the interrelatedness of energy av...
متن کاملPrevalence of individual and combined components of the female athlete triad.
PURPOSE The female athlete triad (Triad) is a syndrome linking low energy availability (EA) with or without disordered eating (DE), menstrual disturbances (MD), and low bone mineral density (BMD) in exercising women. The prevalence of Triad conditions (both clinical and subclinical) has not been clearly established.The purpose of this review is to evaluate the studies that determined the preval...
متن کاملEnergy availability, menstrual dysfunction and bone health in sports; an overview of the female athlete triad.
INTRODUCTION The female athlete triad (FAT) is a serious health-related problem that threatens women who exercise. This condition is an interrelated multifactorial syndrome which includes low energy availability, menstrual cycle disturbances and decreased bone mineral density. OBJECTIVE To review the major components of the FAT and their relationships, as well as strategies for diagnosis and ...
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ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism
دوره 22 2 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2012