The female athlete triad is a concept that describes the link between disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and osteoporosis.

Yes, disordered eating (along with obsessive exercising) can lead to alterations in the body's production of hormones. The main hormones affected are estrogen and progesterone. As levels of these two hormones become altered, the normal functioning of the reproductive system is impaired, leading to menstrual cycle dysfunction. Also affected is bone density. Because estrogen is involved in the process of building bone, changes in the hormone profile can lead to reduced bone growth.

Let me explain each step of the triad in more detail.