Chapter 5 - The Female Athlete Triad: Disordered Eating,

Amenorrhea, and Osteoporosis

Jacalyn J. Robert-McComb, PhD, Jacalyn J. Robert-McComb, PhD, FACSMFACSM

Learning Objectives

After viewing this slideshow, you should have an After viewing this slideshow, you should have an understanding of: understanding of:

the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position stand on the female athletic triad;stand on the female athletic triad;

the difference between disordered eating and eating the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders;disorders;

the progressive nature of menstrual disturbances in athletes;the progressive nature of menstrual disturbances in athletes;

the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis;the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis;

Learning Objectives Continued

the inter-relatedness of disordered eating, the inter-relatedness of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis;amenorrhea, and osteoporosis;

athletes at greatest risk for developing signs and athletes at greatest risk for developing signs and symptoms associated with the triad; andsymptoms associated with the triad; and

the growing health concern of the triad for allied the growing health concern of the triad for allied health professionals.health professionals.

ACSM’s Position Stand on the Female Athletic Triad

• In 1997, ACSM published its Position Stand on the Female In 1997, ACSM published its Position Stand on the Female Athletic Triad Athletic Triad (Otis C, Drinkwater B, Johnson M, et al. 1997). (Otis C, Drinkwater B, Johnson M, et al. 1997).

• The Female Athlete Triad is a serious syndrome consisting The Female Athlete Triad is a serious syndrome consisting of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. The of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. The components of the Triad are interrelated in etiology, components of the Triad are interrelated in etiology, pathogenesis, and consequences. These disorders occur pathogenesis, and consequences. These disorders occur not only in elite athletes but also in physically active girls not only in elite athletes but also in physically active girls and women participating in a wide range of physical and women participating in a wide range of physical activities. The Triad can result in declining physical activities. The Triad can result in declining physical performance, as well as medical and psychological performance, as well as medical and psychological morbidity’s and mortality.morbidity’s and mortality.

The Difference Between Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating • The term disordered eating includes a The term disordered eating includes a

spectrum of abnormal eating behaviors that spectrum of abnormal eating behaviors that range from mild restricting behaviors and range from mild restricting behaviors and occasional binging and purging to those that occasional binging and purging to those that meet the diagnostic criteria for Eating meet the diagnostic criteria for Eating Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-DSM-IV-TR . Manual of Mental Disorders-DSM-IV-TR .

Eating Disorders

• The primary types of eating disorders are The primary types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN). American Psychiatric Nervosa (BN). American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic criteria for these Association. Diagnostic criteria for these disorders can be found in the DSM-IV-TR. disorders can be found in the DSM-IV-TR.

DSM-IV- TR Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected).

• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though under-weight.

DSM-IV- TR Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

• Disturbance in the way in in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence

of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

• In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. (A woman is considered to have amenorrhea if her periods occur only following hormone, e.g., estrogen, administration.)

DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Bulimia Nervosa (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:eating is characterized by both of the following:• eating in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-eating in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-

hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstancestime and under similar circumstances

• a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)what or how much one is eating)

DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Bulimia Nervosa (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

• Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.

• The binge eating and inappropriate behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.

• Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

• The disturbance does not occur during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa.

Definitions of Amenorrhea (somewhat arbitrary)

• Primary AmenorrheaPrimary Amenorrhea• Acyclic at age 16 with secondary sex Acyclic at age 16 with secondary sex

characteristics (seems to be general agreement)characteristics (seems to be general agreement)• Secondary AmenorrheaSecondary Amenorrhea

• The International Olympic Committee defines The International Olympic Committee defines secondary amenorrhea as having one or fewer secondary amenorrhea as having one or fewer menstrual cycles a year.menstrual cycles a year.

• The ACSM position stand on The Female The ACSM position stand on The Female Athletic Triad defines amenorrhea as the Athletic Triad defines amenorrhea as the absence of at least 3-6 menstrual cycles a year.absence of at least 3-6 menstrual cycles a year.

Oligomenorrhea (again, definitions are somewhat arbitrary).

• Defined by some as:Defined by some as:• cycles that occur at intervals longer than cycles that occur at intervals longer than

35 days.35 days.• Others define amenorrhea as:Others define amenorrhea as:

• cycle length from 45-90 days with fewer cycle length from 45-90 days with fewer than 6 menses a year.than 6 menses a year.

The Progressive Nature of Menstrual Disturbances in Athletes • 1. Regular cycles with a shortened luteal

phase- progesterone production stops early• 2. Regular cycles with inadequate

progesterone production• 3. Regular cycles with failure to develop and

release an egg (ovulation)• 4.     Irregular cycles but still ovulating• 5.     Irregular cycles and anovulation• 6. Absence of menses and anovulation

Differentiating Osteoporosis from Osteopenia

The diagnostic criteria for low bone mass as defined by the World Heath Organization is as follows:

normal: bone mineral density (BMD) that is no more than 1 Standard Deviation (SD) below the mean of young adults;

ostopenia: BMD between 1 and 2.5 SD below the mean of young adults;

osteoporosis: BMD more than 2.5 SD below the mean of young adults; and

severe osteoporosis: BMD more than 2.5 SD below the mean of young adults plus one or more fragility fractures.

The Inter-Relatedness of Disordered Eating,

Amenorrhea, and Osteoporosis

One disorder leads to another: (1) disordered eating (2)amenorrhea (3)osteoporosis .

1 2

3

Girls who participate in the following sports are most susceptible• Sports where Sports where

performance is performance is subjectively judgedsubjectively judged

• Sports where athletes Sports where athletes wear revealing wear revealing clothingclothing

• Sports with weight Sports with weight categoriescategories

• Sports where a pre-Sports where a pre-pubescent body is pubescent body is emphasizedemphasized

The Growing Health Concern of the

Triad for Allied Health Professionals • Many colleges and high schools do not use

a medical history form that asks questions which might help determine if athletes are at risk of developing the signs and symptoms associated with disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis.

Responsibility is in our hands

• Therefore, it is up to allied health professionals such as athletic trainers, school nurses, team physicians, physical therapists, nutritionists and exercise physiologists to implement such a screening device.

Denial is common so questions should be subtle.Examples of eating/weight history questions

• What is your desired weight?

• Do you weigh yourself often?

• Does worrying about weight take up a significant amount of your time?

Examples of  menstrual history questions

• At what age did you have your first period?

• When was your last period?

• How many periods have you had in the last 12 months?

Examples of  stress fracture history

• Have you ever had a stress fracture or a stress reaction?

• Have you ever had x-rays to rule out a stress fracture or a stress reaction?

• Have you ever had a bone scan or a bone density test?

Sample questions come from the University of Colorado Sports Medicine Department at Colorado Springs (with permission)

The following Instruments can be found in the Appendices in the text, The Active Female: Health Issues Throughout the Lifespan.

Body Image Concern Inventory

Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)

Bulimia Test - Revised (BULIT-R)

Student-Athlete Nutritional Health Questionnaire

Female Athlete Screening Tool  

Thank You