Relative energy deficiency in sport
The nature and breadth of potential negative impacts of energy imbalance in sports participants has evolved since the female athlete triad was first described in the 1990s
Need to know:
Exercise and sport are important and essential parts of overall health. However, there are times when they can negatively impact the health of individuals.
Relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) is an example of such adverse effects.
The concept was first established in the 1990s with the description of the female athlete triad, whereby energy imbalance was noted to negatively impact menstrual cycles and bone health in female athletes.1
