In the sports area the result of insufficient calorie intake and/or excessive energy expenditure, which translates into a negative energy balance, is defined as relative energy deficit in sport or RED-S and is a syndrome that exhausts athletes. The imbalance between energy intake and expenditure can have several origins, for example: Excessive concern with aesthetics or a certain biotype; Eating disorders; Pressure for results and incorrect training management are important causes in sports. In any person, the possible consequences of insufficient energy availability are multisystemic and can lead to multiple changes, including: Metabolic; Gastrointestinal; Bone health; Cardiovascular; Endocrine, including the menstrual cycle in women; Immune; Hematological; Protein synthesis. In addition to these multiple physical changes, energy deficit also has an important impact on psychological health . Relative energy deficiency in sport – REDS-S The International Olympic Committee defined the concept of RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sports) as an inadequacy of energy availability to meet the needs of the body and sports, with consequences for performance . The prevalence of RED-S can be significant: Reaching up to 50% of the athletes; In certain sports, such as those with an emphasis on aesthetics, endurance or weight categories, it can reach 78%. The imbalance may or may not be intentional. What you need to know is that there must be a balance between energy expended and energy consumption. When there is a greater expenditure of energy and, therefore, greater needs, it is necessary to compensate for them so that the body does not go into deficit, with the risk of multiple losses. Athletes who suffer from long-term low energy availability may develop health problems such as : Nutritional deficiencies (leading to, for example, anemia, iron deficiency, osteopenia, osteoporosis); Chronic fatigue; Changes in sleep pattern; Increased risk of injuries; Increased risk of infections and other diseases; Hormonal disorders, namely, in women, amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) or absence of menarche (first menstruation); In addition to health, sport performance will also be harmed . RED-S can affect amateur or high-performance athletes, whether female or male. It is essential to dispel concepts that few calories can bring better performance because energy deficits have consequences on physical and mental health and harm athletes' performance . Always remember Compromising health to have a better performance in sports is not a sustainable approach and can have serious consequences. It is important that athletes, coaches, and medical teams work together to ensure that they achieve their sporting goals in a safe and healthy way . Author : Beatriz Cardoso Meet the sports medicine clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
