(HealthDay) -- Women have been told constantly that if they don't exercise regularly, they risk osteoporosis in later years.
But now doctors are warning that poor nutrition and too much exercise can leave young women with brittle bones, according to this ABC News story.
Young women can suffer what's termed the female triad, a condition that can leave them with injuries like hip fractures, more often associated with women in their 70s. Dr. Aurelia Nattiv, an orthopedic specialist and director of the UCLA Osteoporosis Center, is quoted as saying the condition leaves women as young as 18 with borderline osteoporosis.
The triad starts when a woman increases her workouts and eats less; it worsens in step two when the body stops menstruating. That causes the the final stage: The body ceases production of female hormones, causing bones to become brittle. And FitnessLink says male athletes can also be at risk for early osteoporosis if they do not eat a balanced diet.
For more information on the triad, check out this article from the American Fitness Professionals & Associates, a trade group. The Physician and Sports Medicine journal discusses how doctors should take notice when a young female athlete switches to a low-meat diet.
