CompletedNot Applicable

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (REDs) in Swedish Athletes

Sweden44 participantsStarted 2022-05-10

Plain-language summary

Background: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) describes impairment of health and performance due to problematic (long-term/severe) low energy availability (LEA), with or without eating disorders. LEA is frequently reported in sports with high training volumes, especially in leanness demanding sports, and 20% of female and 9% of male Norwegian national team athletes have been reported to have eating disorders. Potential trigger factors are e.g., dieting, injuries, coaching behavior, and subculture aspects e.g., focus on low body weight. The main questions that will be addressed are: 1. What is the prevalence of eating disorders and REDs among Swedish elite athletes and controls? 2. What is the impact of problematic LEA on health and performance aspects in both male and female athletes? Methods: National team athletes and gender and matched controls will be invited to an anonymous on-line survey. Elite athletes who agree to participate, will be invited to assessment of eating disorders, nutritional and physiological status (e.g., metabolic and endocrine markers, bone health, microbiota, dietary intake, energy availability, and performance).

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 45 Years

Sex

ALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion: * National-team level athletes * Non-elite athletic controls Exclusion (physical assessment): * chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, hypothyroidism) * injury * smoking * pregnancy * hormonal contraceptive use

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Self-reported eating disorders

Timeframe: Day one

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06371963

SponsorLinnaeus University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2024-05-30

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