TY - JOUR
T1 - Methodology for studying Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)
T2 - A narrative review by a subgroup of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus on REDs
AU - Ackerman, Kathryn E.
AU - Rogers, Margot Anne
AU - Heikura, Ida A.
AU - Burke, Louise M.
AU - Stellingwerff, Trent
AU - Hackney, Anthony C.
AU - Verhagen, Evert
AU - Schley, Stacey
AU - Saville, Grace H.
AU - Mountjoy, Margo
AU - Holtzman, Bryan
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/9/1
Y1 - 2023/9/1
N2 - In the past decade, the study of relationships among nutrition, exercise and the effects on health and athletic performance, has substantially increased. The 2014 introduction of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) prompted sports scientists and clinicians to investigate these relationships in more populations and with more outcomes than had been previously pursued in mostly white, adolescent or young adult, female athletes. Much of the existing physiology and concepts, however, are either based on or extrapolated from limited studies, and the comparison of studies is hindered by the lack of standardised protocols. In this review, we have evaluated and outlined current best practice methodologies to study REDs in an attempt to guide future research. This includes an agreement on the definition of key terms, a summary of study designs with appropriate applications, descriptions of best practices for blood collection and assessment and a description of methods used to assess specific REDs sequelae, stratified as either Preferred, Used and Recommended or Potential. Researchers can use the compiled information herein when planning studies to more consistently select the proper tools to investigate their domain of interest. Thus, the goal of this review is to standardise REDs research methods to strengthen future studies and improve REDs prevention, diagnosis and care.
AB - In the past decade, the study of relationships among nutrition, exercise and the effects on health and athletic performance, has substantially increased. The 2014 introduction of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) prompted sports scientists and clinicians to investigate these relationships in more populations and with more outcomes than had been previously pursued in mostly white, adolescent or young adult, female athletes. Much of the existing physiology and concepts, however, are either based on or extrapolated from limited studies, and the comparison of studies is hindered by the lack of standardised protocols. In this review, we have evaluated and outlined current best practice methodologies to study REDs in an attempt to guide future research. This includes an agreement on the definition of key terms, a summary of study designs with appropriate applications, descriptions of best practices for blood collection and assessment and a description of methods used to assess specific REDs sequelae, stratified as either Preferred, Used and Recommended or Potential. Researchers can use the compiled information herein when planning studies to more consistently select the proper tools to investigate their domain of interest. Thus, the goal of this review is to standardise REDs research methods to strengthen future studies and improve REDs prevention, diagnosis and care.
KW - energy intake
KW - feeding and eating disorders
KW - female athlete triad syndrome
KW - methods
KW - relative energy deficiency in sport
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85174046082&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-107359
DO - https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-107359
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37752010
SN - 0306-3674
VL - 57
SP - 1136
EP - 1147
JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine
JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine
IS - 17
ER -