All athletes need adequate energy to perform at their best. This energy is provided by the nutrients in the food we eat. When an athlete trains hard, but does not fuel their body well enough, they will not have enough energy available to maintain normal body functions and meet the physical requirements of their sport. An athlete may make changes in their lifestyle and eating behaviors like: restricting food intake, eliminating entire food groups from diet, exercising more than needed or being too concerned about missing a workout. Sometimes, athletes accidentally develop an energy deficit when their training increases and they do not change their diet to accommodate for this.

Our specialists use a combination of history, physical exam and diagnostic test for diagnosis of REDs. At the visit, our team gathers information about your child’s nutrition, menstrual cycles (if applicable), training/sport schedule, injury history and attitudes about their weight/body image and sport performance.

These tests include:

• DEXA scan
• Labs: Blood tests may be ordered to evaluate for nutritional deficiency or other possible underlying causes of symptoms associated with REDs.

There are many ways Children’s Wisconsin experts care for patients with Relative Energy Deficiency in sport (REDs). The most effective treatment for REDs involves a team approach that involves the athlete, their family and the medical team. We help our patients’ families develop a supportive environment at home to encourage their child to make healthy nutritional choices and safe training practices to reach their athletic goals. Treatments include:

• Nutritional counseling: The primary treatment of REDs is restoring energy balance. This is achieved by improving nutrition and/or adjusting training and exercise loads.
• Sport psychology: Referral to a psychologist may be beneficial for athletes who are struggling with the stress that can come with participating in competitive sports and/or the stress associated with being injured and not being able to participate at their full capacity, both of which, in turn, may cause athletes to adopt unhealthy eating patterns.
• Additional treatment: Any other sports injuries will be managed as needed.

Expert pediatric care: At Children’s Wisconsin, our sports medicine and REDs experts work in collaboration with dietitians and psychologists to provide comprehensive care for the young athlete. A REDs visit includes meeting with several team members including medical provider, a registered dietician and a licensed athletic trainer. The visits include a detailed medical history and medical exam as well as a evaluation of your child’s current eating habits, dietary preferences and nutrition related goals. Our team works together to provide education to the family and patient, as well as to determine the treatment plan specific to the individual.