When active and athletic girls and women don't eat enough food to meet their body's energy needs, it can disrupt key systems in the body and lead to irregular or absent menstrual cycles and impaired bone health, including osteoporosis and bone stress injuries.
These interrelated disruptions of energy status, reproductive function and bone health are known as the Female Athlete Triad (Triad). The condition can increase the risk of injury and impact long-term health and performance. It affects not only elite athletes but girls and women at all levels of sport. And its prevalence is rising, given the increasing number of girls and women participating in sport and the greater emphasis on sport specialization.
A panel of experts - including the researchers from Penn State - reviewed and synthesized existing scientific studies and data to advance understanding on the Triad and issued an updated consensus statement, the first issued since 2014. The consensus statement is a critical bridge between research and clinical practice, translating the scientific theory and studies into practical guidance, according to the researchers. This update includes two papers, both published in the journal Sport Medicine: a scientific paper that provides a detailed update on the scientific underpinnings of the condition and clinical guidelines for screening, diagnosis, treatment and return to play. It also introduces a first-of-its-kind adolescent model of the Triad.
"This work is crucial to advancing the health, well-being and participation of female athletes," said Mary Jane De Souza, distinguished professor of kinesiology at Penn State and lead author of the scientific paper. "We are delighted to have led this update, which draws on global expertise to provide evidence-based guidance that supports female athletes, coaches and clinicians."
