REDS, DISORDERED EATING & EDS

Welcome to our 'RED-S, Disordered Eating, & EDs' section, dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges athletes and active individuals face when dealing with energy imbalances and eating disorders. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) occurs when energy intake doesn’t meet energy expenditure, leading to health complications like hormonal disruptions, decreased bone density, and reduced performance. In this section, we provide resources to help identify the signs of RED-S, disordered eating behaviors, and eating disorders, along with strategies to address them. You’ll find expert insights on fostering a healthier relationship with food, managing performance pressures, and recognizing the warning signs of unhealthy behaviors.

Disordered eating plagues the athletic community, often flying under the radar. I get it. As an athlete, you’re under immense pressure to perform, to be the best, to push your body to its limits. But what happens when that pressure becomes too much? When the desire to excel turns into an unhealthy obsession with food […]

ACTIVE WOMEN & FEMALE ATHLETES, Eating Disorders, REDS, DISORDERED EATING & EDS, Uncategorized

August 20, 2024

Disordered Eating in Athletes: Breaking Free from the Struggle

Soccer player in blue uniform taking a shot at goal while the goalkeeper prepares to block on a sunny day

If something isn’t quite right with our diet or eating habits, our bodies will eventually let us know. The way and how much you eat directly impacts how your body functions. Food is essential for fueling every process in your body from blinking to keeping your heart beating. Thus, it makes sense that a diet […]

Eating Disorders, Non-Diet Nutrition, REDS, DISORDERED EATING & EDS, Sports Nutrition

January 16, 2023

Signs Your Eating Habits Need to Change

Variety of colorful fresh fruits on a white background, including grapefruit, apple, mango, kiwi, berries, and blueberries, with hands holding blackberries and a green apple.

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that affects one in seven people. This syndrome tends to be more prevalent among women than men and can be connected to disordered eating and eating disorders. As April is IBS awareness month, we want to add evidenced based information to the discussion. Let’s talk […]

Eating Disorders, REDS, DISORDERED EATING & EDS, Women's Health

April 19, 2022

Can Underfueling Cause IBS?

women holds her stomach because of pain caused by IBS

Do you find yourself overcome with guilt or shame after eating your favorite foods because you feel like you’ve failed another diet? Do you apologize for “being bad” when ordering french fries or get anxious when someone brings donuts to the office? It doesn’t have to be this way! “Making peace with food” (one of […]

Eating Disorders, Non-Diet Nutrition, REDS, DISORDERED EATING & EDS

November 8, 2021

Three Tips for Getting Rid of Food Guilt

Close-up of a plate with a chocolate cake slice and cherry tart in focus, with a blurred background of a seated woman in gray, conveying themes of food and emotion

By Ashley Dimon, Dietitian & Sports Nutrition Volunteer Summer’s here, and you’re ready to trade in your mittens and snow shovels for sandals and shades. But are you feeling the pressure of the wellness culture? If you’re like me, your social media accounts are being inundated with “health and wellness” tips and videos from celebrities […]

Eating Disorders, Health at Every Size, REDS, DISORDERED EATING & EDS

June 9, 2021

Sh*t Wellness Culture Tells You: Top Wellness Culture Myths

Close-up of a woman sitting on a yoga mat, checking her smartwatch to track fitness progress.