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:

https://beccamcconville.com/

Instagram: @rebeccaeddietitian

Book: Finding Your Sweet Spot: How to Avoid RED-S by Optimizing Your Energy Balance