The essentials
- Available energy must support training and bodily functions.
- A risk questionnaire does not establish a diagnosis.
- The conversation should include health, recovery and eating circumstances.
The September analysis
On 22 September, ACSM published an analysis by Melissa Lodge and Christie Ward-Ritacco on female athletes' nutrition and wellbeing. It reminds readers that training needs energy, as do the body's everyday functions. Difficulties meeting these needs may relate to schedules, food access, lack of knowledge or deliberate restrictions; there is no single explanation.
An environment that supports performance
- Energy
Consider the demands of the whole week.
- Logistics
Ask about schedules, travel and food access.
- Respect
Avoid judgements based on body appearance.
- Assessment
Risk signals require individual assessment.
Energy availability and REDs are not synonyms
Insufficient energy availability can be part of the problem, while REDs describes a syndrome with physiological or psychological consequences associated with problematic low energy availability. A 2026 methodological review examined thirteen questionnaires and identified limitations in their validation. Identifying risk signals helps decide who needs a fuller assessment; it does not automatically label a person.
A conversation a team can improve
Our editorial suggestion for coaches is to review logistics too: what happens after a late finish, during travel or when activities run back to back? Asking “Have you been able to eat normally this week?” opens a different conversation from discussing weight in front of the group. It cannot diagnose, but helps prevent an everyday obstacle being hidden behind a label such as lack of discipline.
For young athletes, that conversation needs a respectful environment and coordination with responsible adults. Social-media body images cannot assess energy status either. Two people who look similar may have completely different circumstances and needs. A performance goal does not justify body judgements or improvised restrictions.
The app's role
Session records can help explain how much work is being done. They do not independently calculate nutritional needs or diagnose REDs. Concerns about food, recovery or menstrual health call for individual assessment by healthcare and sports-nutrition professionals. Related routines provide training context, not treatment. Sharing a real week, with its changes and difficulties, supports a far more useful conversation than chasing an isolated calorie figure.
Sources and context
Check the original documents and their dates. News, general guidance and a research study do not always answer the same question.
- ACSM · Energy Balance: Female Athlete Well-Being Source date:
- Performance Nutrition · Review of REDs tools Source date:
Educational summary prepared with AI assistance and linked sources. It is not a medical review or an individual prescription. Read our editorial standards.
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