Feb 25 2024 35 mins
Summary
Becca McConville, a sports dietitian and eating disorder specialist, discusses the topic of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and its impact on athletes. She shares her personal journey and highlights the importance of addressing the underlying causes of RED-S, and explains the clinical markers of RED-S and emphasizes the need for collaboration among healthcare professionals, coaches, and athletes. She discusses the role of dietitians in collegiate athletics and the importance of self-care for dietitians to prevent burnout, while exploring potential solutions.
Takeaways
- RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) is a condition that occurs when an athlete's energy intake is insufficient to meet their energy expenditure, leading to negative health consequences.
- Clinical markers of RED-S include changes in heart rate, thyroid function, decreased reproductive function, altered lipid profile, as well as decreased bone density and growth in athletes.
- Educating coaches, athletic trainers, and sports psychologists about RED-S is crucial for early detection and intervention.
- Collaboration between dietitians, sports psychologists, and other healthcare professionals is essential in providing comprehensive care for athletes with RED-S and eating disorders.
- Dietitians working in collegiate athletics should prioritize self-care and establish boundaries to prevent burnout.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:04 Path to Working with Eating Disorders
04:13 Definition of RED-S
06:19 Challenges in Recognizing RED-S
08:29 Clinical Markers of RED-S
11:45 Impact on Lipid Profile
13:05 Educating Coaches and Athlete Providers
16:36 Educating Athletic Trainers, Sports Psychologists, and Coaches
23:18 Collaboration with Sports Psychologists
26:10 Ethics of Working with Sports Psychologists
29:18 Role of Dietitians in Collegiate Athletics
31:48 Taking Care of Dietitians' Mental Health
How to connect with Becca:
Instagram: @rebeccaeddietitian
Book: Finding Your Sweet Spot: How to Avoid RED-S by Optimizing Your Energy Balance