Cited by 724Eating Disorders and BehaviorsSports Performance and TrainingNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 442 of the 454 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 68 of the 152 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

2023 international olympic committee's (IOC) consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs)

Open access

Abstract

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) was first introduced in 2014 by the International Olympic Committee’s expert writing panel, identifying a syndrome of deleterious health and performance outcomes experienced by female and male athletes exposed to low energy availability (LEA; inadequate energy intake in relation to exercise energy expenditure). Since the 2018 REDs consensus, there have been >170 original research publications advancing the field of REDs science, including emerging data demonstrating the growing role of low carbohydrate availability, further evidence of the interplay between mental health and REDs and more data elucidating the impact of LEA in males. Our knowledge of REDs signs and symptoms has resulted in updated Health and Performance Conceptual Models and the development of a novel Physiological Model. This Physiological Model is designed to demonstrate the complexity of either problematic or adaptable LEA exposure, coupled with individual moderating factors, leading to changes in health and performance outcomes. Guidelines for safe and effective body composition assessment to help prevent REDs are also outlined. A new REDs Clinical Assessment Tool-Version 2 is introduced to facilitate the detection and clinical diagnosis of REDs based on accumulated severity and risk stratification, with associated training and competition recommendations. Prevention and treatment principles of REDs are presented to encourage best practices for sports organisations and clinicians. Finally, methodological best practices for REDs research are outlined to stimulate future high-quality research to address important knowledge gaps.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This 2023 IOC consensus statement updates the 2018 REDs consensus, redefining Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport as a syndrome of impaired physiological and/or psychological functioning in female and male athletes caused by exposure to problematic (prolonged and/or severe) low energy availability. It introduces a novel REDs Physiological Model, an updated four-colour IOC REDs Clinical Assessment Tool-Version 2 (CAT2), and methodological guidelines for future research.

Key findings

  • Since 2018 there have been ~178 REDs and/or LEA original research publications featuring ~23,822 participants (80% female), with ~62% cross-sectional, ~14% longitudinal observational and ~12% longitudinal intervention designs.
  • Reported estimated prevalence of LEA/REDs indicators ranges widely: 23%–79.5% in female athletes and 15%–70% in male athletes across sports, attributed to lack of a singular definitive diagnosis and methodological variation.
  • Six emerging themes are highlighted: (1) additive/magnifying impact of low carbohydrate availability (LCA) with LEA; (2) symptom overlap between REDs and overtraining syndrome (OTS); (3) time-course of biomarker responses; (4) mental health associations; (5) REDs in male athletes; and (6) para athletes.
  • LCA studies show deleterious effects sometimes in the absence of LEA — e.g., a 3-day intervention in young females showed a 264% increase in hepcidin with a low energy, low CHO diet versus only 69% with isocaloric low energy but higher CHO; ~3.5 weeks of LCHF diet impaired bone remodelling markers.
  • A universal LEA threshold of 30 kcal/kg FFM/day is debated; the threshold at which males experience REDs-related symptoms appears lower (e.g., ~9 to 25 kcal/kg FFM/day).
  • In para athletes, among US para athletes preparing for Paralympic Games, 62% attempted to alter weight/body composition, 32% had elevated EDE-Q pathological behaviour subscale scores, and 44% of female athletes reported menstrual dysfunction.

Methods

  • Consensus methodology used the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) with a diverse expert panel (sports medicine physicians, sports endocrinologist, sports dietitians, physiologists, scientists, an athlete, a coach, a mental performance consultant; 10 females and 7 males from four continents).
  • Working groups prepared referenced literature summaries and voting statements; these underwent online confidential Delphi voting, in-person discussion at the Olympic House in Lausanne (September 2022), and a second round of electronic voting.
  • Agreement thresholds: agreement = ≥80% agreeing without any disagreement; agreement with minority disagreement = ≥80% agreeing but with one or more disagreeing; disagreement = <80% agreeing. Round 1 presented 135 statements (76 full agreement); round 2 presented 44 statements; overall 144 statements, of which 27 remained with minority disagreement.

Limitations

  • The paper states there is no singular validated diagnostic method for REDs, requiring exclusion of other aetiologies in the differential diagnosis for each indicator; the IOC REDs CAT2 guidelines are "less reliable when it is impossible to assess all indicators" and are not to be used in isolation or solely for diagnosis.
  • The paper notes the REDs education and behaviour modification research field is underdeveloped, and that specific REDs education programmes require further exploration and validation; time-course cut-offs for LEA require further scientific validation and may differ between males and females.
  • The paper states that only 20% of original studies from 2018 to 2022 include male athletes, and that the picture remains unclear regarding mental health and DE behaviour dynamics by sex, level of competition, and in athletes with physical disabilities; the estimated prevalence of REDs in para athletes is unknown.
  • Evident from the text: the consensus is based largely on cross-sectional studies with acknowledged limitations (lack of standardisation of recruitment and assessment protocols, poor characterisation of menstrual status, poor or non-existent assessment of EA), and the one cited 12-month intention-to-treat RCT had a high drop-out rate (57%).

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106994

Cites

442 of 444 references verified0 citation errors · 2 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

36 Own interpretation · 28 Partly supported · 22 No full text of the sources · 14 Supported · 14 No basis given · 12 Supported so far · 8 Own method · 4 Own result · 2 Sources not found · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 51 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 54
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 51
89 of 89
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The expert panel's consensus reflects the best available evidence on REDs.

    “consensus methodology also harnesses experts' insights to enable more validated recommendations to be made when the published evidence ranges from insufficient to adequate.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method is a valid method for developing consensus recommendations on REDs.

    “This REDs consensus statement used the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM).43”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The literature search identified all relevant studies on REDs and LEA.

    “Since 2018, there have been considerable scientific advancements in the REDs research field including ~178 REDs and/ or LEA original research publications featuring ~23 822 participants; (80% female), with ~62% of these studies implementing a cross-sectional design, ~14% as longitudinal observational and ~12% longitudinal intervention (see literature summary in online supplemental file 1).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The measurement of EA in free-living athletes is challenged by a high level of burden (eg, time, effort) to the participant and assessor.

    “Unfortunately, the measurement of EA in free-living athletes is challenged by a high level of burden (eg, time, effort) to the participant and assessor.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many members of the athlete entourage lack the knowledge of safe regulation of body weight and composition and how it can be utilised to improve performance while maintaining health.

    “many members of the athlete entourage appear to ( 1) lack the knowledge of safe regulation of body weight and composition and how it can be utilised to improve performance while maintaining health;”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many members of the athlete entourage have ignorance of the suitability of various body composition methods and the possible negative health effects consequent to inappropriate assessment.

    “(2) have ignorance of the suitability of various body composition methods and the possible negative health effects consequent to inappropriate assessment”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many members of the athlete entourage have inadequate communication skills, with lack of optimised protocols on how to manage and safely implement the data to promote health and performance without the added risk of developing REDs, DE behaviours or EDs.

    “(3) have inadequate communication skills, with lack of optimised protocols on how to manage and safely implement the data to promote health and performance without the added risk of developing REDs, DE behaviours or EDs.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Choosing an appropriate body composition assessment method involves consideration of its accuracy, repeatability, utility and cost.

    “Choosing an appropriate body composition assessment method involves consideration of its accuracy, repeatability, utility and cost.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    For para athletes, adjustments of the assessment protocol and analysis of results may be needed.

    “For para athletes, adjustments of the assessment protocol and analysis of results may be needed.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Problematic LEA is the underlying aetiology for the health and performance outcomes of REDs.

    “Because problematic LEA is the underlying aetiology for the health and performance outcomes of REDs”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Various LEA indicators (signs and symptoms) have emerged as the current best practice for clinical assessment and research purposes.

    “various LEA indicators (signs and symptoms) have emerged as the current best practice for clinical assessment and research purposes.”
11 of 11

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Citations

Cites

Items 201–400 of 444

Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Stearns SC . The evolution of life histories. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 1992.
  2. Heikura, 2018, Impact of energy availability, health, and sex on hemoglobin-mass responses following live-high–train-high altitude training in elite female and male distance athletes, Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 13, 1090, 10.1123/ijspp.2017-0547 · DOI · Paper page
  3. Finn, 2021, Markers of low-iron status are associated with female athlete Triad risk factors, Med Sci Sports Exerc, 53, 1969, 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002660 · DOI
  4. Lundy, 1873, Screening for low energy availability in male athletes: attempted validation of LEAM-Q, Nutrients, 14, 1873, 10.3390/nu14091873 · DOI · Paper page
  5. American Psychiatric Association . Diagnostic and statistical Manual of mental disorders: DSM-5-TR 5th edn. American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 18 March 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787 · DOI · Paper page
  6. Fairburn CG , Cooper Z , O’Connor M . Eating Disorder Examination (Edition 16.0D). New York: Guilford Press, 2008.
  7. Stellingwerff, 2021, Overtraining syndrome (OTS) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S): shared pathways, symptoms and complexities, Sports Med, 51, 2251, 10.1007/s40279-021-01491-0 · DOI · Paper page

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Metadata

Authors
Mountjoy, M., Ackerman, K. E., Bailey, D. M., Burke, L. M., Constantini, N., Hackney, A. C., Heikura, I. A., Melin, A., Pensgaard, A. M., Stellingwerff, T., Sundgot-Borgen, J. K., Torstveit, M. K., Jacobsen, A. U., Verhagen, E., Budgett, R., Engebretsen, L., & Erdener, U.
Affiliations
  • International Olympic Committee (CH)
  • Boston Children's Hospital (US)
  • Australian Catholic University (AU)
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Victoria (CA)
  • Linnaeus University (SE)
  • Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NO)
  • University of Agder (NO)
  • Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
  • Hacettepe University (TR)
Venue
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2023-09
Volume
57
Issue
17
Pages
1073-1098
ISSN
  • 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
  • 1473-0480
OpenAlex
W4387036470
Cited by
724
References
454
Citations by year
2026: 279 · 2025: 243 · 2024: 179 · 2023: 22
FWCI
198.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
Funders
International Olympic Committee
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
relative energy deficiency in sport, low energy availability, athletes, female athletes, male athletes, mental health, physiological modeling, body composition assessment, risk stratification, prevention and treatment
MeSH terms
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, Body Composition, Female, Humans, Male, Sports, Exercise, Athletes

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