Practical use of the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission Position Stand on the Female Athlete Triad: a case example.
The female athlete triad consists of the interrelated problems of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis, and it is believed to affect female athletes in all sports and at all levels of competition.


OBJECTIVE
The current article highlights the Position Stand on the Female Athlete Triad of the International Olympic Committee's Medical Commission (IOCMC).


METHODS
The literature related to disordered eating, energy availability, amenorrhea, and bone loss in athletes is briefly reviewed. A hypothetical case is presented to illustrate some of the common issues and problems encountered when working with athletes affected by the triad, such as the effect of weight on performance in "thin" sports, coach involvement, sport participation by symptomatic athletes, and treatment resistance/motivation.


RESULTS
Strategies recommended by the position stand for managing those issues and problems are presented regarding the referral, evaluation, and treatment phases of the management process.


CONCLUSIONS
Implications of the position stand are discussed in terms of the IOCMC's endorsement of the athlete's health being primary to her performance.
Bloomington Center for Counseling and Human Development, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. rsherman@indiana.edu
Roberta Trattner
RT
Sherman
Ron A
RA
Thompson
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D011361:Professional Competence; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013177:Sports