Relative energy deficiency in sport

Symptoms of RED-S.

Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)[1][2] is a syndrome in which disordered eating (or low energy availability),[3] amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea (in women), and decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis and osteopenia) are present.[4] It is caused by eating too little food to support the amount of energy being expended by an athlete, often at the urging of a coach or other authority figure who believes that athletes are more likely to win competitions when they have an extremely lean body type. RED-S is a serious illness with lifelong health consequences and can potentially be fatal.[5]

RED-S is the broader, more comprehensive name for what was formerly known as the female athlete triad (or simply the triad), which was a condition seen in females participating in sports that emphasize leanness or low body weight.[1][6] As the non-menstrual components are also seen in males, the name was changed to the comprehensive term RED-S.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Mountjoy, Margo; Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn; Burke, Louise; Carter, Susan; Constantini, Naama; Lebrun, Constance; Meyer, Nanna; Sherman, Roberta; Steffen, Kathrin; Budgett, Richard; Ljungqvist, Arne (April 2014). "The IOC consensus statement: beyond the Female Athlete Triad—Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 48 (7): 491–497. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093502. PMID 24620037. S2CID 206880457. ProQuest 1779358024.
  2. ^ "The athletes starving themselves for success". BBC News. 9 December 2018.
  3. ^ Hoch AZ, Pajewski NM, Moraski L, et al. (September 2009). "Prevalence of the female athlete triad in high school athletes and sedentary students". Clin J Sport Med. 19 (5): 421–8. doi:10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181b8c136. PMC 2848387. PMID 19741317.
  4. ^ De Souza, Mary Jane; Nattiv, Aurelia; Joy, Elizabeth; Misra, Madhusmita; Williams, Nancy I; Mallinson, Rebecca J; Gibbs, Jenna C; Olmsted, Marion; Goolsby, Marci; Matheson, Gordon (February 2014). "2014 Female Athlete Triad Coalition Consensus Statement on Treatment and Return to Play of the Female Athlete Triad: 1st International Conference held in San Francisco, California, May 2012 and 2nd International Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 2013". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 48 (4): 289. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-093218. PMID 24463911.
  5. ^ Hobart, J. A.; Smucker, D. R. (June 2000). "The female athlete triad". American Family Physician. 61 (11): 3357–3364, 3367. PMID 10865930. ProQuest 234284479.
  6. ^ Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn (February 2005). "The female athlete triad: are elite athletes at increased risk?". Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 37 (2): 184–193. doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000152677.60545.3a. PMID 15692312.