Jan 23, 2026
- Associate Professor Kary Woodruff coauthored two major publications updating the Female Athlete Triad Coalition Consensus Statements.
- The 2025 update introduces new terminology, clinical insights, and adolescent‑specific guidance.
- Adds energy deficiency, metabolic compensation, and bone stress injuries to updated clinical models.
- Includes an accessible explanation of the Female Athlete Triad for families and young athletes.
Kary Woodruff, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, has coauthored two major publications updating the Female Athlete Triad Coalition Consensus Statements. This 2025 update reflects five years of scientific and clinical collaboration and introduces significant advancements in understanding the Female Athlete Triad—described simply as the way eating enough, having regular periods, and keeping bones strong are interconnected in female athletes.
The Female Athlete Triad can occur when someone exercises a lot but doesn’t eat enough to fuel their activity. This can cause periods to slow down or stop, and over time can make bones weaker and more likely to be injured. All three parts are interrelated—and with good nutrition and support, athletes can get healthy and strong again.
The updated statement replaces “low energy availability” with the broader term energy deficiency, recognizing that athletes may show several signs that their bodies aren’t getting enough fuel. The paper also adds metabolic compensation, the body’s way of conserving energy when fuel is low. Additionally, the authors emphasize that stable body weight should not be interpreted as evidence of energy balance or overall health. Given strong evidence linking the Triad to stress fractures, bone stress injuries have been added to the bone health continuum. The publication also outlines expected clinical timelines for onset and recovery of Triad‑related conditions and introduces a new adolescent model designed to reflect the unique needs of younger athletes.
“Updating these guidelines has been a five‑year effort, and I’m grateful to contribute to work that directly supports the health and safety of female athletes. Our goal is to help clinicians better recognize when athletes aren’t getting the fuel they need and how that affects their hormones and bone health. These updates give us stronger tools to protect athletes across all levels of sport.”
Woodruff’s clinical and research work focuses on the intersection of nutrition, athlete health, and disordered eating, with a strong emphasis on the physiological needs of female athletes. Through her national collaboration with the Female Athlete Triad Coalition, she continues to support earlier identification, improved treatment pathways, and safer return‑to‑play decisions for athletes at every level. Her contributions advance evidence-based practice in sports medicine and promote long-term athlete well‑being.