Understanding RED- S
This health condition is rife among runners: so what is it, how can you avoid it, and what can you do if it affects you?
Words: Lucy Waterlow
Uderfuelling your body for the sport you do – whether unintentionally or on purpose – has longterm effects
It is estimated 58 percent of athletes are at risk of a condition called RED-S, but what exactly is it? Pronounced ‘reds’ or ‘red-s’, RED-S stands for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. It occurs when an athlete’s body doesn’t have enough energy to keep up with the demands of their exercise, on top of their essential daily functions.
Lots of athletes can get into this state aer a particularly hard run or race if they fail to fuel themselves sufficiently before, during and after.
This won’t necessarily have adverse outcomes if they fuel and rest well in the days to follow, as going into energy deficit isn’t too serious if it isn’t a regular occurrence. But if it happens repeatedly, a chronic energy imbalance will occur that can have major and long-lasting health implications.
“Some people will get into energy deficit without even realising it,” explains Pippa Woolven, the founder of Project RED-S. “Low energy availability might occur if you have upped your training without also upping what you eat; if you have a suppressed appetite after a long run so don’t eat for a while; or if you just didn’t have time for a decent meal after training.”
For others, it might occur because they have made the conscious choice to lose weight, or because they are following a certain diet that doesn’t include enough variation of nutrients.