ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT part of the female athlete triad?

1. menopause

2. osteoporosis

3. eating disorders

4. amenorrhea

The correct answer is: menopause

The female athlete triad is a syndrome that encompasses three interrelated components: energy availability (often disrupted by disordered eating), menstrual function (amenorrhea), and bone health (osteoporosis). Menopause is a natural biological process that occurs later in a woman's life, typically in middle age, and is not classified as part of the female athlete triad. It is characterized by the end of menstrual cycles and a decline in reproductive hormones, which is fundamentally different from the conditions faced by young female athletes who may experience amenorrhea due to low energy availability or excessive training. In contrast, osteoporosis is related to decreased bone density that can arise when energy availability is insufficient for maintaining normal physiological functions, especially in athletes. Eating disorders can significantly impact energy availability and menstrual regularity, making them central to the triad. Amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation, often develops as a consequence of the stress placed on the body from inadequate nutrition combined with high physical demands. Therefore, menopause does not belong to the triad since it occurs at a different life stage and is not caused by the same factors that contribute to the athlete triad conditions.