Eating disorders in Athletes

The Female athlete Triad

This in turn then leads to a calcium deficiency which causes Osteoporosis, which is detrimental to not only the athletes success but also their wellbeing, bones are likely to break a lot easier also stress fracture can appear. Each condition alone is of great medical concern, however together they create concern and is potentially life threatening. Fertility is also in jeopardy if athletes continue to starve their bodies of correct nutrition.

While female athletes are very susceptible to developing the triad, adolescent girls are most at risk due to the biological changes, growth spurts, peer and social pressures, and rapidly changing life circumstances that are territorial in teenage years. Males may develop similar syndromes however it is the combination of all three conditions that is of large concern in female athletes.

Safe guarding athletes from eating disorders

 A coaching style that adopts a positive, person orientated approach opposed to a performance orientated approach deemed negative.Healthy attitudes towards health and body image from family, team members, coaches and friendsEmphasis from coaches on things that contribute to personal success, such as motivation and enthusiasm rather than image weight or size.Education on proper nutrition and an emphasis on correct nutrition as a determinant of success rather than weight loss.

As with eating disorders in general those in athletes are no les complicated and require treatment as soon as possible. Treatments set out under the diagnosis for a specific eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or purging disorder, need to be administered on an asap basis. Treatment for eating disorders do not differ for an athlete or an average person suffering from an eating disorder.

The female athlete triad is a combination of three conditions, it includes; disordered eating, Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle) and osteoporosis (weak bones from lack of calcium). Disordered eating firstly results in a deprivation of correct nutrition from the body. This can cause amenorrhea or loss of several menstrual cycles.

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