Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) and Eating Disorders in Athletes: New Developments and Practice Implications
July 15 @ 10:00 am - 11:15 am PDT
We’ll begin with a brief overview of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), specifically highlighting symptoms shared with eating disorders as well as differences. We’ll share emerging research on specific performance and health implications of REDs, including new guidelines for assessment of body composition, then discuss both medical and nutrition-related considerations. We’ll also unpack the International Olympic Committee’s REDs Clinical Assessment Tool Version 2 (CAT-2), calling out opportunities for RD’s to play a critical role in REDs assessments.
Learning Objectives:
Following this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Articulate two similarities and two differences between REDs and EDs.
- Summarize the three steps involved in the REDs CAT-2.
- Name the sex-specific thresholds for low energy expenditure (LEA).
Megan Hellner, DrPH, MPH, RD Bio:
Dr. Megan Hellner is a California-based researcher and registered dietitian with 20(ish) years of experience treating athletes with eating disorders. Throughout her career, she’s partnered with numerous sport organizations nationwide as both a clinician and educator, and served as a founding dietitian for several eating disorder treatment programs. Dr.’s Hellner and Hill are the Cofounders of AthleatMD, a virtual multi-state practice providing medical and nutrition support to athletes with disordered eating and/or REDs. She is deeply passionate about helping athletes across sport and skill-level navigate food and body issues through the various stages of their athletic career, such as competition, off-season, pregnancy/postpartum, or ‘retirement’ from sport.
Katherine Bell Hill, MD, FAAP Bio:
Katherine Hill, MD is a pediatrician and eating disorder specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field, first getting interested in athletes and disordered eating as an NCAA Division I swimmer. She completed medical school and pediatric residency at Stanford and spent 4 years as faculty at Stanford as Clinical Assistant Professor of Adolescent Medicine. She then served as the lead medical doctor and Vice President of Medical Affairs and Care Delivery at Equip Health for nearly 5 years before joining forces with Dr. Hellner to found AthleatMD.
