Risk Factors of TRIAD

The TRUTH of The Matter?

All women who participate in sports are susceptible to TRIAD related health complications

What makes or breaks it?

It's no secret that women are subjected to high amounts of ridicule in sports and comparison within groups.

Studies have shown that “Sports emphasizing endurance, aesthetic or weight class... That emphasize and reward leanness... Early age sports specialization, family dysfunction, abuse, and dieting.” are all factors that increase risk (Weiss Kelly et al., 2016).

“75% of gymnasts who were told by coaches that they were overweight resorted to pathogenic weight control.”

(Weiss Kelly et al., 2016)

The progression of the female athlete TRIAD typically begins with disordered eating which leads to a lack of energy availability thus resulting in amenorrhea and then eventually osteoporosis.

W H E N T O W O R R Y

It's not always easy to identify, but we have compiled a list of red flags that you can look out for in yourself and your peers

  1. Greater time participating in exercise - especially endurance sports

  2. Lower weight or BMI

  3. Loss of period or menstrual irregularities

  4. Elevated dietary restraint

  5. Energy deficiency

These risk factors may not immediately indicate TRIAD, but they could be a reason to pay closer attention to your body or check in on your teammates.

INTERVENTION AND EDUCATION IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO PREVENT THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD

"[This] intervention included eight 45-minute, small-group classroom sessions guided by peer leaders. The curriculum included education regarding substance use, nutrition, and unhealthy behaviors... This trial shows that primary intervention techniques that use education with peer leaders can reduce the risk of disordered eating and other risk-taking behaviors" (Weiss Kelly et al., 2016).

-> Want to view the whole study? Check out more from the article below!

Weight-bearing exercise and proper nutrition are also key

Making TRIAD a Normal discussion - A POdcast episode

The key is making TRIAD common knowledge and removing the stigma from an open discussion regarding issues we all face such as body image dissatisfaction and menstrual health.

In this podcast episode of The Dancer Diaries, host Julia Lackey introduces the topic to her listeners in an earnest and casual way - this sort of content helps initiate conversation; whether that's amongst followers, within families, or on the team we can all become more compassionate communicators.



REFERENCES

Weiss Kelly, A. K., Hecht, S., Brenner, J. S., LaBella, C. R., Brooks, M. A., Diamond, A., Hennrikus, W., LaBotz, M., Logan, K., Loud, K. J., Moffatt, K. A., Nemeth, B., & Pengel, B. (2016, August 1). The Female Athlete Triad. American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/2/e20160922/52440/The-Female- Athlete-Triad?autologincheck=redirected%3FnfToken