Under-Fueling: The Hidden Struggle of Top Athletes – Olympic Team Doctor Kate Ackerman on Spotting Red Flags and Finding Solutions

Imperfect Progress with Anne Guzman

You train hard and have a great plan, yet you're still not getting the results as an endurance athlete. Maybe you're feeling exhausted or battling mood swings? Something is off and the dots just aren’t connecting - but you don’t know why. It is frustrating!

It could be your fueling strategy.

In Episode 38, Dr. Kate Ackerman, Harvard professor, sports medicine doctor, and team physician for USA Rowing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sheds light on the often-overlooked issue of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and its profound impact on both athletic performance and overall health.

Key Topics:

• Insights from the IOC’s 2023 Consensus on RED-S, including the difference between short-term and chronic low energy availability.
• How to recognize the red flags of under-fueling and its effects on physical health, bone density, reproductive function, and mental well-being.
• Practical advice for athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals on maintaining proper energy balance to support peak performance.
• Challenges athletes face when increasing calorie intake after periods of restriction, including body image and mental health considerations.
• Guidance on fostering healthy development in young athletes, emphasizing skill growth over energy manipulation.

Resources Mentioned:

• Visit Redinsport.org for tools like the RED-S CAT2 clinical assessment tool.
• Follow Dr. Kate Ackerman on X (Twitter) at https://x.com/DrKateAckerman for more insights on athlete health and performance.

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