The Prevalence Of The Female Athlete Triad In Recreational Endurance Runners

Abstract: The female athlete triad has been shown to be of severe consequence for female athletes who do not consume enough dietary calories to meet the high energy demands of intense or prolonged physical activity. The three components of the triad (low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mass) can lead to severe and possibly permanent health complications such as amenorrhea, anovulation, stress fractures, and even osteoporosis. A review of the literature has found that most of the research has focused on exploring the depths of one component of the triad or on the interrelationship of two components of the triad. Only four research studies to date have examined the true prevalence of all three components of the triad. Other limitations of the research include a lack of 1) longitudinal data, 2)data on recreational runners (as opposed to elite runners), and 3)large scale studies. This thesis will serve to explain in detail the components of the present study, The Prevalence of the Female Athlete Triad in Recreational Endurance Runners, as well as a prospective follow-up study, Treatment Methods for Recreational Runners Presenting with the Female Athlete Triad: A Longitudinal Study. The goal for these two studies is to increase awareness and show support for the true prevalence of the female athlete triad in a large scale study using recreational runners as well as forming a foundation for prevention and treatment methods for future research concerning the triad.