The Athletic Woman's Survival Guide

Successful athletes are typically ambitious, motivated and have a positive mindset for setting and accomplishing goals. The female athlete may to be swayed by body image and an obsession with weight loss and appearance, which can affect her physical and mental well-being. In the book "The Athletic Woman's Survival Guide," Carol L. Otis and Roger Goldengay discuss the Female Athlete Triad, involving eating disorders, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis, and provide guidance for athletic women in overcoming this health battle.

Identification

In "The Female Athlete Triad: A Statement of the Problem" published in 2008 in the Journal of Sports and Recreation, Texas A&M professor Tara Tietjen-Smith explains that the competitive push in sports can be potentially dangerous for girls already obsessed with thinness and body image. As defined by the American College of Sports medicine, complications related to the Female Athlete Triad cause long-term health complications, problems in reproduction and morbidity.

Features

Those who suffer from the Female Athlete Triad are typically competitive female athletes of high school or college age. Smith explains that factors including the athlete's personality, pressure to lose weight to improve performance, overtraining, injuries, coaching pressures and early start of sport-specific training are factors that influence and characterize the complex. Though the problem is not sport-specific, it is highly prevalent in ballet and competitive running, according to AthletesAdvisor.com.

Prevention/Solution

Tietjen-Smith explains that athletes and family members should be educated about disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, decreased bone mineralization and adequate calorie and nutrient intake to meet energy expenditure. Female athletes need to learn the medical facts about sports training and nutrition. Trusted coaches and trainers should share responsibility for providing prevention programs, Smith also says. A balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats, rich in essential minerals like calcium and iron, with adequate calorie intake can help reverse the effects of the complex. Psychological help and a revised training program may also be necessary.

Expert Insight

Carol L. Otis, a physician for the UCLA Student Health Services, has seen firsthand the devastating effects of the female triad. In "The Athletic Woman's Survival Guide," Otis gives detailed examples of athletes who have struggled with the triad, as well as recommendations to athletic women in seeking help. She also suggests that coaches and parents give positive reinforcement that can boost athletes' self-esteem and perception of body image.

Warning

If left untreated, Female Athlete Triad can cause the development of disease, injury or fatality. If you or someone you know may reflect symptoms of this complex, it is critical that you seek professional help. The Female Athlete Triad can be preventable and reversible. With proper treatment, intervention and lifestyle changes, your athlete can overcome the effects of this complex and return to healthy and successful athletics.