FEATURE / DR NICOLA KEAY

Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) was first described in the 2014 International Olympic Committee consensus statement . RED-S compromises the interrelated adverse clinical outcomes of low energy availability on both health and performance. Therefore, early identification of athletes at risk of RED-S is a priority as a prevention strategy.

In female athletes, disruption of female hormone networks is an early indicator of the risk of developing RED-S. Although RED-S may be perceived as a situation only occurring in aesthetic or weight dependent sports, evidence is emerging that this syndrome can arise in other sports, including football.