Even though awareness of relative energy deficiency in sport, or RED-S, is growing, misconceptions persist.
Learn why, and what you might do.
I suffered many injuries, and probably have lifelong consequences with bone density that Im working on fixing.
What is REDs?
REDs happens when athletes dont eat enough to fuel their bodies.
It doesnt take much of a deficit to happen.
founder of Out of The RED-S
This problem was once considered the female athlete triad2low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mass.
As a dietitian, we can assess where their energy status is.
A medical provider can assess their physiological functioning.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
Yet many of these people lack knowledge about how to go about doing that safely, it adds.
A well-fed body is a resilient body.
Rebecca McConville, RD
Even in healthcare, REDs may not be fully appreciated.
Its well-documented that doctorsall too often focus on weightwhen theyre caring for patients in larger bodies.
The path forward
So what can be done?
founder of Out of The RED-S
Treatment for REDs involves eating more food.
But sometimes thats more complicated than it sounds.
Healing can also require a mindset shift.
McConville says, We really have to start having some institutional culture changes.
Athletes shouldnt accept these REDs symptoms as normal.
A well-fed body is a resilient body that wont have all these issues when its taken care of.
Wasserfurth, Paulina et al.
10 Sep. 2020, doi:10.1186/s40798-020-00275-6
Nazem, Taraneh Gharib, and Kathryn E Ackerman.
The female athlete triad.Sports healthvol.
4,4 (2012): 302-11. doi:10.1177/1941738112439685
Mountjoy, M., et al.
57, 2023, pp.
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