REDs (relative energy deficiency in sport) occurs in athletes who chronically underfuel for the amount of training they’re doing.
When working with an athlete, as a nutritionist, it can be helpful to plan out ahead what they may need nutritionally. Some athletes will find calories triggering, so an individual approach to each athlete is needed, however, here’s a rough idea:
These situations all require an extra 100 calories per day
15 minute increase in a training session
5 mile increase in weekly mileage
Increased training intensity (>RPE 5)
It is then your job as a nutritionist to translate what this means to athletes - they will want to know what foods they need to eat to get in those 100 calories [roughly; banana, almonds, 1 tbsp peanut butter]
what strategies have you found most effective in addressing REDs and ensuring athletes receive adequate fuel for their training? And how do you approach discussions about nutrition with athletes who may find calorie tracking triggering or challenging?
great question! I suffered with REDs myself, so only ever tend to share things that worked for me personally, rather than medical / nutritional advice but one of the key ways of addressing REDs is tackling the mental barriers to recovery, Most athletes struggling with REDs tend to show signs of disordered eating / eating disorders too, so it’s really important to be mindful of this when addressing REDs. For these athletes, they might find calorie tracking triggering, so nutritionists can work with them differently… they might opt for that particular athlete to send photos of food, rather than weighing food themselves, and the nutritionist can gain some idea of roughly what intake is like. Or telling them to eat X, Y, Z rather than giving them a certain calorie goal. Also education is key… athletes often do things to get better / faster, so telling them that the food they eat will help them reach that goal far more than underfuelling will
Absolutely, planning ahead and tailoring nutrition strategies is key, especially with sensitive topics like calorie intake. It’s vital to address individual needs. Could you elaborate on how you approach discussing these strategies with athletes who may find calorie discussions triggering? How do you navigate that conversation effectively?
This is a really great question. The discussion certainly needs to be approached with empathy, sensitivity, and a focus on health and performance goals. It’s paramount to respect their individual needs and preferences throughout the process. I’d say, creating a safe environment is a big one. Emphasising the importance of fuelling to support energy levels, recovery and optimal performance in training and competition also translates well when working with these athletes. Using terms like ‘energy needs’ is another one, rather than ‘calories’.