Low Energy Availability and REDs Nutrition Support
Nutrition support for athletes experiencing persistent under-fuelling, low energy availability or concerns associated with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport.
Low energy availability occurs when the energy available from food is not sufficient to support both exercise and the body’s wider physiological needs.
This may happen unintentionally when training increases, appetite is reduced, meals are missed or an athlete finds it difficult to match intake to a demanding schedule. It may also occur alongside more complex relationships with food, body image or exercise.
Prolonged or severe low energy availability can contribute to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), which may affect health, recovery and performance.
As a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist, I provide nutritional assessment and individualised support for athletes experiencing under-fuelling, low energy availability or REDs-related concerns.
Nutrition support may involve:
Reviewing current energy and carbohydrate intake
Assessing how nutrition matches training demands
Identifying gaps in pre-, during- and post-training fuelling
Developing practical strategies to increase energy availability
Supporting recovery, bone-health nutrition and menstrual health
Addressing barriers to adequate fuelling
Monitoring nutritional progress
Recommending medical assessment or wider professional support where appropriate
Understanding the scope of this service
REDs is a clinical syndrome and cannot be diagnosed through a nutrition consultation alone. Symptoms such as fatigue, menstrual disruption, reduced performance or gastrointestinal problems can have several possible causes.
Nutrition assessment and intervention can form an important part of care, but they do not replace medical investigation, diagnosis or psychological treatment (where appropriate).
You may therefore be advised to involve your GP, sports medicine clinician or another healthcare professional before or alongside dietetic support. I work with other trusted services and professionals who I can signpost to, or I can liase with your GP and wider teams as required.
Eating Disorders and Complex Presentations
Low energy availability can occur with or without an eating disorder.
Some athletes experiencing disordered eating, food-related anxiety or difficulty increasing their intake may be appropriately supported through dietetic input, particularly where suitable wider support is already in place.
However, where significant or active eating-disorder symptoms, marked psychological distress, medical instability or other complex needs are identified, a clinician or service with a focused eating-disorder MDT may be more appropriate.
In these circumstances, I will discuss this openly with you and may recommend onward referral or multidisciplinary care. This is to ensure that the level and type of support provided are appropriate and safe.
Is this service suitable for me?
This service may be suitable if you:
Regularly struggle to eat enough around training
Have increased your training but not adjusted your intake
Experience persistent fatigue, poor recovery or declining performance
Have concerns about low energy availability
Have experienced menstrual changes alongside training
Want to improve fuelling after recurrent illness or injury
Have been advised by a healthcare professional to improve your energy intake
Require sports nutrition support as one part of a wider REDs care plan
An initial assessment will consider whether dietetic support through RJ Performance Nutrition is appropriate for your current needs.
Where another practitioner or service would be better placed to support you, this will be explained and appropriate next steps discussed.
Looking for general sports nutrition advice for training, competition and recovery?
How Nutrition Support Helps
Working with a registered sports dietitian helps athletes with RED-s or low energy availability to:
Restore adequate energy intake
Optimise fuelling strategies for training and recovery
Support hormonal and metabolic health
Improve bone health and injury prevention
Maintain long-term athletic participation
Develop positive relationships with food and body image
Nutrition plans are individualised, clinically-evidenced, practical, and aim to promote safe ongoing participation in sports throughout recovery - where appropriate.
Enquire about low energy availability and REDs nutrition support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is REDs (or RED-s) in athletes?
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Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs, formerly RED-S) is a clinical syndrome that occurs when an athlete’s energy intake is insufficient to meet training demands and physiological needs. This has impact on multiple body functions including endocrine, metabolic, bone, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health, as well as training and performance. Early recognition and MDT support are critical to restore energy availability and prevent longer-term health implications.
Who is at risk of REDs?
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Athletes across all disciplines and competition levels (from recreational to elite) may be affected. This includes endurance, team, and strength sports, and particularly those with high training loads, busy competition schedules, inadequate energy intake or wider lifestyle stressors. Both male and female athletes are at risk, though symptom presentation may differ.
Is multidisciplinary input needed when supporting athletes with REDs?
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Often. REDs can involve nutritional, medical, psychological and training-related factors.
A registered sports dietitian can assess nutritional intake and fuelling patterns, identify factors that may contribute to low energy availability, provide an individualised nutrition strategy and monitor nutritional progress.
Depending on the athlete’s symptoms and history, input may also be required from a GP, sports medicine clinician, psychologist, eating-disorder professional, physiotherapist or another appropriately qualified practitioner.
Can nutrition alone resolve REDs?
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Nutrition support for adequate energy availability and nutrient timing is a cornerstone of recovery, but holistic management requires consideration of training load adjustments, clinical assessment, and lifestyle factors. Working within a multidisciplinary framework ensures safe restoration of energy balance and optimal outcomes for sport and long-term health.
Are online consultations available?
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Yes. online consultations are available for athletes across the UK and in-person for those in Newcastle, Northumberland and surrounding areas. All consultations include assessment, personalised nutrition support, and MDT referral/signposting if required.
Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist in Newcastle
Athletes looking for evidence-based sports nutrition support in Newcastle upon Tyne can access services through RJ Performance Nutrition.
Support is available for athletes across a range of sports and performance levels, with services including:
In-person services are available in Newcastle upon Tyne, for athletes from surrounding areas in the North East including:
Gateshead
North Shields
South Shields
Sunderland
Durham
Northumberland
Sports nutrition consultations are also delivered online for clients across the UK, allowing athletes to access specialist nutrition support regardless of location.
Appointments can be booked online through RJ Performance Nutrition.