A conversation about Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
Athletes in any sport may underfuel their bodies in the belief that this will further improve their performance. If the body does not get the fuel it needs to train and perform, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) may develop. This syndrome describes the many serious health and performance consequences if an athlete’s energy intake from food is not adequate for normal body function.
At this live event, we host one of the most profiled RED-S experts globally and an elite athlete whose career was ended by RED-S. Their discussion will be as close to real sporting life as can be.
Date: Thursday, September 16, 2021
Time: 17H00 GMT
Located: Online – A Login link will be provided to you prior to the event
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Female athletes are poised to achieve their greatest potential. With unfaltering discipline, they follow demanding training schedules and are willing to sacrifice comfort for excellence. Thousands of hours are committed to perfecting their sporting skills. In this mindset, food becomes a calculated part of training schedules.
RED-S is common among athletes in sports where there is a specific weight required to compete in a certain weight class (e.g., boxing, lightweight rowing, taekwondo, wrestling), sports where appearance and performance are subjectively judged (e.g., dance, figure skating, gymnastics), and endurance sports (e.g., cycling, running), where a lower body mass is often thought to improve speed. However, any athlete of any gender participating in any sport is at risk for RED-S.
This webinar will provide athletes and medical practitioners with general and very personal insights on RED-S.
About Dr. Kathryn Ackerman
Dr. Kathryn Ackerman is an internist, sports medicine doctor, and endocrinologist. She represented the US as a lightweight rower and is the current team physician for US Rowing. She is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and the founder and director of the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she treats female athletes of all ages. The Program recently became part of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance. She is also the director of the biennial Female Athlete Conference, which brings together researchers, coaches, medical professionals, and athletes to improve the knowledge about optimizing female athlete health and performance. Dr. Ackerman loves helping female athletes reach their full potential.
About Soren Meeuwisse
Soren Meeuwisse competed on the Cross-Country Mountain Bike Canadian National Team from ages 17-21 when she studied at McMaster University. While completing her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree, she also competed in varsity sports for cross country running and Nordic skiing. She transitioned from sport to academics and became a coach, mentor, tutor, clinical research trial assistant, physiotherapist assistant volunteer, and RED-S advocate.
