title: Knowledge of the female athlete triad, and prevalence of triad risk factors among female high school athletes and their coaches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine awareness/knowledge of the Triad and its health implications among female high school athletes and their coaches, and to evaluate coaches' Triad screening/intervention practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two high schools in the western United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female athletes from a variety of sports (N = 240) ages 14-18 years and their coaches (N = 10).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed surveys that assessed Triad knowledge and athlete Triad risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of responses to Triad knowledge, Triad risk factor, and Triad education/screening procedures questions; athlete summative knowledge score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Half (N = 120) of participants reported menstrual irregularity, and 42% (N = 101) had 2 or more Triad risk factors: past amenorrhea (N = 39), past stress fracture (N = 41), self-reported not eating enough (N = 53), underweight (BMI-for-age < 5(th) percentile) (N = 10), pressure to be a certain weight (N = 143), and wanting to lose >10 pounds when self-reported weight was in a healthy range (N = 34). Average athlete Triad knowledge score was 2.97 ± 1.61 out of 8. Coach Triad knowledge was limited; however, most (9/10) were comfortable discussing menstruation with their athletes. Barriers to Triad screening/education were coaches' insufficient time, knowledge, and educational resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triad risk factors were prevalent among athletes and coach and athlete Triad knowledge was low. Providing coaches with Triad screening/education training may increase Triad knowledge and decrease Triad risk among high school athletes.
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah.
authors.forename: Katie N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. Electronic address: heidi.wengreen@usu.edu.
authors.forename: Heidi J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wengreen
authors.affiliation: College of Health, Department of Nutrition, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Beals
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D053716:Female Athlete Triad Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Adolescence; Amenorrhea; Athlete/athletics; Female athlete triad; Menstrual irregularity; Oligomenorrhea