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Regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining overall health, providing benefits such as improved bone density, enhanced cardiovascular fitness, and increased self-esteem. However, when athletes push their bodies too hard without consuming enough calories to meet their energy needs, they may develop a condition known as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).
In this article, Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke University and a former collegiate athlete, explores how REDs can impair performance, increase injury risk, and affect long-term health—and what athletes, coaches, and healthcare providers can do to prevent it.
View the OrthoInfo article, (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons).