Health & Wellness I going to start?” She calculated the months, 1, 2, 3… By her math, she probably had a few more weeks before her next period. She dreaded them because it seemed that she was always more emotional than normal. The little things got to her when they otherwise never would have.
she stayed up until 1 or 2 o’clock on school nights before tests. As a young woman, she always thought it was better to be lean. She was convinced that every pound above 102 might as well have its own
less), and is very weight conscious because of her belief that additional weight will adversely affect her athletic performance, and that it is socially unacceptable in her eyes. Furthermore, she has a couple of aspects of her life that may exacerbate her risk. First, her exposure to what constitutes a normal period is greatly influenced by the experiences of her peer group. In this case, other girls on the track team who have a similar number of periods annually. This can give Riley a false sense of normalcy and make changing her mind more difficult. An absence of menses greater than three months is called amenorrhea and can indicate an estrogen deficiency.
There are 3 components to what is known as the ‘female athlete triad,’ and Riley is at risk to varying degrees in each area...
The team always met for meals TOGETHER. That was one of Coach’s rules. “Gatorade to rehydrate, small piece of baked chicken for protein, some steamed broccoli, and a small helping of the ‘vegetable of the day,’” Riley mumbled to herself. “Never am quite sure what vegetable is in ‘vegetable of the day,’, she thought to herself. She looked over at Charlotte’s plate and it looked about like Riley’s. Riley had learned through the power of observation to obtain affirmation that she was doing the right thing without even asking for it. This would still leave enough calories for her to drink one more Gatorade before bedtime and still come in less than 1600 calories for the day. Riley worked hard at trying to do her best at anything she tried. As an athlete, her form was important as were her times. As a student, she had always been at the top of her class, although things didn’t come as easy to her as others thought. They weren’t there when
billboard announcing its existence for all to see, especially the coach. And she didn’t need to give Coach any more reasons to question her ability to perform tomorrow. Medical Analysis There are 3 components to what is known as the “female athlete triad,” and Riley is at risk to varying degrees in each area – bone health, irregular periods, and energy available to maintain normal body functions after allowing for exercise. Riley tells us that she has had more than 1 stress fracture as an 18 year old female athlete, has about 2 periods annually (normal frequency of menses is 35 days or
Second, she is very weight conscious and has established personal maximums for herself. While it is not uncommon for young women in our society to believe that “thin is in,” Riley’s calculated Body Mass Index is in the low end of normal range. Riley gives no indication that she understands that the energy available after allowing for exercise is fundamental to her general good health including approximately monthly menstruation. Lastly, her low energy intake and abnormal number of periods annually are risk factors of poor
Dr. David Zimmerman bone health as discussed above. Unfortunately, she has already experienced multiple stress fractures. Simply put, Riley’s athletic career and long-term health is in jeopardy and she is unaware. Early recognition and treatment is essential. Athletes should be educated that eating right and appropriate medical care may improve performance. If they still refuse to seek medical care, concerned individuals should seek additional information on behalf of the athlete directly from medical professionals. Being thin doesn’t necessarily mean a person is healthy. If after reading Riley’s story, you are concerned about someone in your life who exhibits similar symptoms, the staff at Center for Primary Care Family Medicine can help. Give them a call today to set up an appointment today.
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