Low energy availability doesn’t just affect female athletes

+Practice

Sports Medicine

Low energy availability doesn’t just affect female athletes

Steve Targett

Friday 16 May 2025, 12:15 AM

Both male and female athletes can be affected by low energy availability across multiple body systems [Image: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels]

Sports physician Steve Targett discusses the effects of low energy availability in male and female athletes, including the syndrome known as relative energy deficiency in sport

Key points, The underlying cause of relative energy deficiency in sport is inadequate energy intake relative to energy expenditure, or low energy availability. , Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Women's Health

References

1. Mountjoy M, Ackerman KE, Bailey DM, et al. 2023 International Olympic Committee's (IOC) consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Br J Sports Med 2023;57(17):1073–97.

2. Stellingwerff T, Mountjoy M, McCluskey WT, et al. Review of the scientific rationale, development and validation of the International Olympic Committee Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport Clinical Assessment Tool: V.2 (IOC REDs CAT2)–by a subgroup of the IOC consensus on REDs. Br J Sports Med 2023;57(17):1109–18.

How to Treat

+How to treat

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM