by Paula Van Aken

Professor Emeritus, Marymount College of Fordham University
Registered Dietitian  (RD) with specialty in eating disorders
NYS Certified Dietitian /Nutritionist
Owner, Integrated Health Solutions, Inc.

While recently watching the Olympic trails for gymnastics, I noticed how incredibly muscular the American female gymnasts appeared. They seemed to possess very different body types compared to famous gymnasts of yore, such as Nadia Comaneci, who has publicly written about her former struggles with anorexia and bulimia. Could this mean that eating disorders are a thing of the past in gymnastics? Probably not.

Eating disorders are a consequence of many competitive sports, particularly where weight and appearance play a big factor, such as wresting, rowing, ballet and gymnastics. This especially puts our young daughters at risk for a condition known as "female athlete triad".

The three components of this triad include:

• 1) Disordered eating involving extreme caloric restriction or episodes of bingeing and purging. When caloric intake is not sufficient to meet the demands of intense exercise, estrogen production drops contributing to...
• 2) Amenorrhea defined as the absence or abnormal disruption of the menstrual cycle. This low level of estrogen can also lead to ...
• 3) Osteoporosis which is a weakening of the bone structure and loss of bone density. Frequent stress fractures are often an early first sign of osteoporosis.

The "female athlete triad" can have long term serious consequences. Scheduling an extensive physical exam is usually the first step if any of the above are suspected. There is so much positive knowledge now about increasing athletic performance through eating and adequate nutrition. A visit to an RD skilled in eating disorders or sports nutrition may be all that is necessary to turn a female athlete in the right direction.