Young female athletes' diet are not sufficient for their lifestyle

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Since Title IX, the comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity, was passed in 1972, there has been an astounding increase in girls' and women's participation in sports, according to the Women's Sports Foundation. In fact, among high school students, participation has increased by 560 percent, and 990 percent among college students. However, the Huffington Post reports that many young female athletes are experiencing female athlete triad syndrome—low bone density, low energy and irregular menstrual cycles—due to their insufficient diets.

More importantly, female athlete triad syndrome is no longer just common in skinny athletes, but in various other body types as well.

"These athletes can come in any shape, form or weight. It's not just that typical ballerina physique that we're looking out for anymore," orthopedic surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Matzkin, chief of Women's Sports Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told NPR. Moreover, Matzkin said that most athletes are not aware of this risk, and many primary care doctors do not recognize the syndrome.

According to Matzkin, it is important to focus on nutrition and menstruation to identify nutrition deficiency in these female athletes. She said: "We may be able to identify the root cause of bone mineral density problems."

Matzkin said that a proper diet involving fruits, vegetables, protein and foods rich in calcium and vitamin D is crucial, especially when building strong bones. More importantly, there is a window of time in which women can build strong bones. She said: "We can only really build it up to about age 25."

If you're older than 25, you begin to lose bone density as the years pass. Women's Health reports that according to endocrinologist Kendall Moseley, M.D., of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Metabolic Bone Center, "most women are totally clueless about bone health."

In fact, 94 percent of women don't worry about their skeletons, a survey by the National Osteoporosis Foundation revealed. Additionally, 1 in 5 women under the age of 30 already has osteopenia, or low bone density, which increases the risk for osteoporosis.

Women's Health further reports that according to Bart Clarke, M.D., an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, "Women who stick to severely low-calorie diets often have the bone health of someone twice their age."

Studies show that among 20-year-olds who cut dairy out of their diet, 68 percent do not get enough calcium from their food, which is why it is important to look for healthier alternatives for calcium sources, and other vital vitamins and minerals.