Female athletes at risk: RED-S expert warns of hidden energy crisis
While RED-S is complex, it comes down to a simple energy imbalance, said Pippa Woolven, former Commonwealth Games athlete and founder of Project RED-S, the athlete-led initiative dedicated to raising awareness and improving education about the condition. RED-S happens when athletes do not eat enough to match the energy they burn through exercise and basic bodily functions. This energy shortfall disrupts key systems in the body. The consequences can be serious: fatigue, weaker bones, slower recovery, more frequent illness and injuries and reduced performance. Drawing on her personal experience, Pippa launched Project RED-S in 2021, collaborating with healthcare professionals and athlete advocates to promote education and sustainable performance. “A lot of the symptoms—like injuries, illnesses and fatigue—are so normalized in sports and exercise settings, that without even knowing it, I…