There has been substantial talk surrounding RED-S and for good reason.
Adequate energy intake is essential for athletic performance, recovery, and long-term health.
Yet many athletes, across all sports and competitive levels, fail to meet their daily energy needs.
A chronic mismatch between energy intake and energy expenditure can lead to low energy availability, impairing performance and increasing the risk of injury, illness, and hormonal disruption.
Although RED-S is often viewed as the result of intentional undereating (when athletes consciously restrict food intake due to performance beliefs, body image concerns, or external pressures) undereating can also occur unintentionally.
Framing RED-S solely as a consequence of deliberate restriction or disordered eating overlooks a substantial subset of athletes who fail to meet their energy needs due to factors such as high training volume, appetite suppression following intense exercise, time constraints, limited access to food, gastrointestinal discomfort, or a lack of awareness of increased energy requirements.
Recognizing both intentional and unintentional pathways to low energy availability is critical for effective screening, prevention, and intervention in athletic populations.
