Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)!

On April 9, 2024, Dr. Sara McMullan, an experienced local Pediatrician, came and spoke to our class on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport more commonly known as RED-S. Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) describes a syndrome of poor health and declining athletic performance that happens when athletes do not get enough fuel through food to support the energy demands of their daily lives and training.

Before discovering that RED-S could affect not only female athletes but also male athletes, it was formally known as "The Female Triad," or FAT. The three elements included in the triad are an interrelationship of menstrual dysfunction, low energy availability, and decreased bone mineral density.

After explaining the meaning of RED-S and all its common names, Dr. McMullan then began to lecture on how to identify, prevent, and treat these issues in athletes to prevent major issues from occurring such as the development of fragile bones or the lack of fertility. RED-S is extremely difficult to identify as it is not as simple as using an MRI to identify an ACL tear, but you may see swelling or more subtle lines. To prevent RED-S, you must give your body more nutrients than the energy you need to perform a physical activity. If an athlete has been suffering from RED-S for a chronic amount of time, treatment can include a strong focus on nutrition, a cut in training time, and the possibility of mental health intervention.

Dr. McMullan also touched on fractures, and how important the prominence of fractures or the causes of fractures plays in the diagnosis of RED-S before ending the lecture with a case of a 15-year-old female cross-country athlete who is experiencing the symptoms of RED-S, and how we would diagnose her and establish a treatment plan.

This presentation was extremely informative, especially as a young female athlete who participates in everyday activities and varsity athletics. I feel as though all athletes should be informed of this condition, and apply preventative measures in their daily lives.