Joe Cannon Health podcast episode 18. Mary Cain has been called the Michael Jordan of track and field. She was the youngest US athlete to represent America at a national championship. She is speaking out over her treatment by coaches at the now-defunct Nike Oregon Project. In interviews, she described breaking 5 bones, losing her menstrual cycle for 3 years and not getting enough to eat – which resorted to her eating in private, afraid her coaches would hear her opening wrappers on energy bars. This story has been repeated a lot, but all major news outlets seemed to have missed an important aspect. Why did Mary break bones? Why did she lose her menstrual cycle? In this episode, I'll describe the syndrome Mary had. It's called Female Athlete Triad. This is a condition ALL female athletes – and their coaches – need to be aware of.
Summary
- The myth of the week: does muscle weigh more than fat?
- Mary Cain and her experiences at the Nike Oregon Project
- What is Female Athlete Triad
- Symptoms and statistics of Female Athlete Triad
- Who is at risk of Female Athlete Triad
- Why was Mary Cain given birth control pills?
- How likely is Female Athletic Triad?
- Telltale signs and symptoms and questions to ask
- How to deal with the condition
- What is Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S)?
Quote of the day
Resources
- Mary Cain Athlete Wikipedia Page
- Nike Oregon Project Wikipedia Page
- Mary Cain Good Morning America Interview
- I was the Fastest Runner in America – until I joined Nike (NYT Paywall)
-
Nike vows investigation following Mary Cain’s allegations of abuse at Oregon Project
-
Nike Responds to Runner Mary Cain's Abuse Allegations | NBC New York (Video)
-
American College of Sports Medicine position stand. The female athlete triad.
-
The Female Athlete Triad (American Family Physician)
-
Female Athlete Triad (KidsHealth.org)
-
Dose-response relationships between energy availability and bone turnover in young exercising women.