Girls face a unique set of risk factors related to sports participation. A common group of risk factors for female athletes is known as the female triad, which was previously defined in terms of osteoporosis, amenorrhea and eating disorders.
However, in a clinical report in the August 2016 issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends pediatricians start looking for symptoms that may be present long before these clinical diagnoses can be made.
The AAP clinical report, "The Female Athlete Triad," will be published online July 18.
Signs associated with the triad include:
- Lack of menstruation
- Reduced bone mass density
- Inadequate calorie intake to compensate for physical exertion
- Decreased cardiovascular health
The triad is particularly relevant to teen athletes because it is a critical time for bone mass development, meaning inadequate nutrition and bone mass development at this age will have a negative impact later in life.