Prevalence of Female Athlete Triad Characteristics in a Club Triathlon Team

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 88; no. 5; pp. 681 - 682
• Main Authors: Hoch, Anne Z., DO, Stavrakos, John E., MD, Schimke, Jane E., AAS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Amenorrhea; Amenorrhea - epidemiology; Athletics; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eating disorders; Energy Metabolism; Feeding and Eating Disorders - epidemiology; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Non tumoral diseases; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteoporosis - epidemiology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Prevalence; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Rehabilitation; Sex Factors; Sports; United States; North America; America; Amenorrhea; Female; Athletics; Rehabilitation; Eating disorders; Calorie; Physical exercise; Left; Prognosis; Prevalence; Questionnaire; Lumbar spine; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; X ray; Eating disorder; Inorganic element; Epidemiology; Energetic cost; Female athlete triad; Carbohydrate; Woman; Age; Food; Human; Menstruation disorders; Nutrition disorder; Characteristic; Hip; Female genital diseases; Dual energy absorptiometry; Bone mineral density; Dysmenorrhea
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.02.035

Abstract Hoch AZ, Stavrakos JE, Schimke JE. Prevalence of female athlete triad characteristics in a club triathlon team. Objective To determine the prevalence of the female athlete triad in club triathletes. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Academic medical center in the midwestern United States. Participants Fifteen women (mean age, 35±6y). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Disordered eating and menstrual status were determined by questionnaires. Energy status was determined by a 3-day food record, resting energy expenditure, and exercise energy output. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the total left hip and lumbar spine (L2-4) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results Sixty percent of the triathletes were found to be in calorie deficit, 53% had a carbohydrate deficit, 47% had a fat deficit, 40% had a protein deficit, and 33% had a calcium deficit. Forty percent of triathletes reported a history of amenorrhea. BMD was normal in the lumbar spine (L2-4) (1.3±0.1g/cm2 ) and total left hip (1.1±0.1g/cm2 ). Conclusions Triathletes are at risk for components of the female athlete triad. Continued efforts need to be directed at prevention through education of athletes, coaches, parents, and health care professionals.