Reading Passage: History of RED-S

Module 2: History of RED-S

The concept of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) has its roots in the historical understanding of the Female Athlete Triad.
‍
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) has its origins in the historical understanding of the Female Athlete Triad. It was in 1984 that researchers first noticed a link between amenorrhea and bone mineral density decreases. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) first described the Triad in 1992, identifying it as a condition consisting of three interrelated components: disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. Further research revealed that amenorrhea and osteoporosis were linked to low energy availability. This led to a new definition of the Triad, focusing on energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and bone health.
‍
Over time, it became clear that RED-S was not limited to female athletes and that its effects went beyond the original three components. In 2014, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) introduced the term RED-S. It was not until 2018 that researchers linked the medical complications associated with RED-S to low energy availability.