Sports Medicine Project Relative energy deficiency in sport: What Every Athlete & Clinician Must Know #127
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Oct 19, 2025 Discover the crucial concept of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and its impact on athletes' health and performance. Learn about the prevalence of low energy availability, key risk factors, and effective red flags for screening. The podcast highlights practical tools for clinicians and athletes, emphasizing the importance of addressing energy deficits. Gain insights into the consequences of under-fueling, and explore how to foster collaboration with dietitians to enhance athlete care and performance.
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Clinician's Rediscovery Of RED-S
- Blake Withers describes how RED-S repeatedly appears in his PhD research rabbit holes and clinical practice.
- He emphasizes RED-S impacts beyond bone injuries, affecting immune health, libido, cognition, and performance.
RED-S Is A Multi-System Continuum
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) extends beyond simple under-fuelling and affects multiple body systems.
- Blake Withers frames RED-S as a continuum with low energy availability often the precursor to wider health and performance issues.
Use The Energy Availability Equation
- Calculate energy availability as (energy intake − exercise energy expenditure) ÷ fat-free mass to assess risk.
- Use this framework to identify when training demands outstrip fuel and consider referral to a sports dietitian.