The underlying cause of the female athlete triad is an imbalance between<unk>  taken into the body (through nutrition) and<unk>  used by the body (through exercise). The treatment includes correcting this imbalance by either increasing calories in a diet or by decreasing calories burned by exercise for 12 months or longer. Persons with female athlete triad should get treatment from a multi-disciplinary team that includes a physician, dietitian, and mental health counselor, and seek support from family, friends, and their coach. Because a symptom of the female athlete triad is menstrual dysfunction, some physicians may recommend oral contraceptives because those pills will regulate the menstrual cycle. However, the underlying cause of the menstrual disorder is an<unk>  imbalance, and using pills to regulate the menstrual cycle without changes in diet and behavior is likely to mask the food<unk>  and delay appropriate treatment. A woman taking contraceptives to treat menstrual dysfunction without correcting this<unk>  imbalance will continue to lose bone density. Less exercise Continued participation in training and competition depends on the physical and mental health of the athlete. Athletes who weigh less than 80 percent of their ideal body weight may not be able to safely participate. Persons with female athlete triad are often asked by health care providers to reduce the amount of time they spend exercising by 10-12 percent. Eating more Low<unk>  availability with or without eating disorders, functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, and osteoporosis, alone or in combination, pose significant health risks to physically active girls and women. Prevention, recognition, and treatment of these clinical conditions should be a priority of those who work with female athletes to ensure that they maximize the benefits of regular exercise. Patients are recommended to work with a dietician who can monitor their nutritional status and help the patient work towards a healthy goal weight. Patients should also meet with a psychiatrist or psychologist to address the psychological aspects of the triad. Therefore, it is important that trainers and coaches are made aware of the athlete’s condition and be part of her recovery. Medicine Patients are also sometimes treated pharmacologically. To both induce menses and improve bone density, doctors may prescribe cyclic estrogen or progesterone as is used to treat post-menopausal women. Patients may also be put on oral contraceptives to stimulate regular periods. In addition to hormone therapy, nutrition supplements may be recommended. Doctors may prescribe calcium supplements. Vitamin D supplements may be also used because this vitamin aids in calcium absorption. Bisphosphonates and calcitonin, used to treat adults with osteoporosis, may be prescribed, although their effectiveness in adolescents has not yet been established. Finally, if indicated by a psychiatric examination, the affected athlete may be prescribed anti-depressants and in some cases benzodiazepines to help in alleviating severe distress at mealtimes.
Relative energy deficiency in sport
Ergogenic use of anabolic steroids
Obesity-associated morbidity
Chronic stress
Benefits of physical activity
Metabolically healthy obesity
Lifestyle causes of type 2 diabetes
Stress hyperglycemia