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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says a Consensus Statement has been published, highlighting a new syndrome affecting the health and performance of athletes.
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport known as REDs is caused by the mismatch between the calories eaten and burned during exercise.
In a statement issued on Thursday, IOC says the consensus, informed by a panel of international experts, draws on key advances in REDs science over the past five years.
The aim of the consensus is to promote wider recognition and prevention of the syndrome, optimising athlete health, psychological well-being and performance.
In particular, the Statement highlights:
New evidence on the emerging role of inadequate carbohydrate intake;
The overlap between REDs and overtraining syndrome;
The timeline of REDs development;
The interplay between mental health and REDs; and
Advances in the understanding of the syndrome in male athletes and Para athletes.
The full Consensus Statement is available in the British Journal of Sports Medicine
REDs affect multiple body systems and functions as well as athlete performance and was first recognised as a distinct entity by the IOC in a 2014 Consensus Statement, which was updated in 2018.
