Japan Gender Equality Report Highlights Female Athlete Health

June 15, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government took up health problems female athletes face, such as amenorrhea and osteoporosis, in an annual gender equality report released Friday.

The white paper said 16.7 pct of the surveyed female collegiate athletes who play gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, figure skating and other sports requiring weight restrictions were suffering amenorrhea, while 24.5 pct had experienced stress fracture.

Amenorrhea and stress fracture may result from excessive weight loss and a lack of energy resulting from intense exercise, said the report, adopted at a cabinet meeting.

The report also noted difficulties female athletes experience in balancing their sports activities with childbirth and child care.

Athletes who want to stay on as players after childbirth have increased, though support measures for them, such as nurseries at competition venues and training for pregnant athletes, are not enough, the report said. Jiji Press