Energy deficiency and youth volleyball players

Nov 29

67% of athletes are at a moderate risk of relative energy deficiency in sport, with 41% of these athletes being female. More than 60% of athletes are worried about their weight, concerned about fat on their body, and think about burning calories while exercising. With the continued societal pressures put on athletes, we want to make sure we are educating the importance of proper food intake.

Low energy availability (LEA) occurs when an athlete does not consume enough food to match their activity level, or when the athlete is attempting to cut calories to lose weight. LEA can lead to relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). RED-S, sometimes known as the female athlete triad, can impact different components of health for young athletes, including menstrual cycles, bone health, mental health, gastrointestinal health, growth and development, increased risk for injury and decreased strength and endurance.

We want your athlete to be performing at their highest level, but also want your athlete to not have complications further in life. RED-S can impact bone health and fertility later in life if not addressed.

Things to consider with your athlete are the importance of adequate food intake, are they consuming more energy than they are exhausting throughout their day? Do they have a regular menstrual cycle? Are they experiencing recurrent injury or illnesses? Are they constantly tired? Are they more irritable than they used to be?

Have questions about LEA or RED-S? Reach out to us or your primary provider for more information. Let’s keep our young athletes healthy and excited to participate in their sport!