• Consultations
  • Personal Trainer Test
  • Classes
  • Resources
  • Shop

Joe Cannon, MS

Honest Answers: Health, Wellness, Fitness, Nutrition

  • Home
  • About
  • My Books
  • Contact

Podcast: Are Female Athletes At Risk?

By Joe Cannon Leave a Comment

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.

 

Episode

 

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

  1. Mary Cain Athlete Wikipedia Page 
  2. Nike Oregon Project Wikipedia Page
  3. Mary Cain Good Morning America Interview
  4. I was the Fastest Runner in America – until I joined Nike (NYT Paywall)
  5. Nike vows investigation following Mary Cain’s allegations of abuse at Oregon Project

  6. Nike Responds to Runner Mary Cain's Abuse Allegations | NBC New York (Video)

  7. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. The female athlete triad. 

  8. The Female Athlete Triad (American Family Physician)

  9. Female Athlete Triad (KidsHealth.org)

  10. Dose-response relationships between energy availability and bone turnover in young exercising women. 

  11. ACOG Committee Opinion: Female Athletic Triad

  12. Age at first oral contraceptive use as a major determinant of vertebral bone mass in female endurance athletes.

Any Comments or Questions?

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Filed Under: Podcast

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About

I'm Joe Cannon. I hold an MS in exercise science and a BS in chemistry and biology.

I've been quoted in the New York Times and Daily Beast to name a few. I've even lectured to the NASA community.

I'm the author of the first book on rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) & exercise. I've conducted over 1,000 fitness certification classes.

Learn more about me

Get My Free Newsletters

Fitness Professioals Guide To Muscle Anatomy

Fitness Professionals Guide To Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Human Movementhttps://amzn.to/4aRi7ki

Categories

  • Certifications (27)
  • Exercise (38)
  • Health (42)
  • Interviews (10)
  • Nutrition (17)
  • Personal Trainer (52)
  • Podcast (98)
  • Product Reviews (38)
  • Rhabdo Articles (19)
  • Websites (9)




Rhabdo Book

  • rhabdo-bookhttps://amzn.to/47BtjPd

Personal Trainer Practice Test

https://joe-cannon.com/product/personal-trainer-practice-test-300-exam-questions-educate-challange-anyone-4th-edition-edition/personal trainer practice test

NASM PT Book

NASM PT Bookhttps://amzn.to/3RTkRVK

Privacy Policy

Credentials

Joe Cannon, MS has written for several publications including The Journal of Strength and Conditioning, Today's Dietitian, and Prevention. He's been quoted in the New York Times, lectured to NASA and has been a content consultant for Dateline NBC. He's the author of the first book ever published on rhabdomyolysis and exercise. Joe Cannon, has a BS in Chemistry and Biology and a MS in Exercise Science. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a personal trainer certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
  Copyright © 2013 - 2025 Joe Cannon ·  Built by Varick Design

Copyright © 2025 · Joe Cannon on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in