With the strategy paper “Women and Girls in Sport”, the Federal Institute of Sport Science has set itself the goal of working with various stakeholders from the fields of sport, science, and politics to promote equality for girls and women in sport and to honor this commitment.
Dr. Paulina Wasserfurth-Grzybowska, research associate at the Assistant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition and Health under the direction of Prof. Dr. Karsten Köhler, was awarded second place in the “FeMaLe” research prize, which is awarded by the Federal Institute of Sport Science, for her outstanding achievements in sports science research. In her research, Wasserfurth-Grzybowska focuses on the health consequences and prevention of chronic energy deficiency in female athletes. The prize is endowed with 2.000 euros.
“As a scientist and active sports nutritionist, promoting a sustainably healthy athletic career for girls and women in competitive sports is an integral part of my work and my daily motivation to pursue this work. The link between research and practice is crucial to me, because only through the transfer can the female athletes benefit directly. It is a great honor for me that my work has been awarded 2nd place in the FeMaLe research prize”, explains the research assistant.
The two-day networking event took place from 2 to 3 September in Berlin. Nancy Faeser, Federal Minister of the Interior and Community and Andrea Schumacher, Director of the Federal Institute for Sports Science, welcomed the guests.
In his laudatory speech, Prof. Köhler not only acknowledged the outstanding scientific achievements of his colleague but also emphasized the importance of the research results for practice: “I am very pleased for Dr. Wasserfurth-Grzybowska that her outstanding achievements as a young scientist have been recognized not only by a small specialist audience but nationwide. I would also like to emphasize that Dr. Wasserfurth-Grzybowska brings to life the transfer of knowledge into the practice of nutritional advice for female athletes, which is often called for.” In this context, the nutritionist emphasized that the research had developed a deep understanding of the challenges and risks faced by female endurance athletes.
The comprehensive consequences of chronic energy deficiency have been summarised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2014 under the term “Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport” (REDs), which occurs particularly frequently in aesthetic and weight-sensitive sports. As part of her previous research work, Dr. Wasserfurth-Grzybowska investigated the challenges female endurance athletes face as “high-risk athletes” for REDs to optimize primary and secondary prevention in this group.
A central focus was on coordinating and implementing the multicentre study "Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes (FUEL) - a Learning Program" in Germany. The study, which was conducted in collaboration with scientists from Norway (University of Agder), Sweden (Linneaus University) and Ireland (Sport Ireland), aimed to develop interventions for the prevention and treatment of REDs and to improve the health of female endurance athletes. The results, recorded in three publications, make a significant contribution to understanding the risk factors of REDs and to effective intervention strategies.
To the homepage of the Chair of Exercise, Nutrition and Health
To the publication “Short-term effects and long-term changes of FUEL-a digital sports nutrition intervention on REDs related symptoms in female athletes”
To the publication “Effects of a 16-Week Digital Intervention on Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behaviour in Female Endurance Athletes with Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)”
To the publication "Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes"
Contact:
Prof. Dr Karsten Köhler
Assistant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition and Health
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 Munich
Phone: 089 289 24488
E-mail: karsten.koehler(at)tum.de
Dr Paulina Wasserfurth-Grzybowska
Assistant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition and Health
Connollystraße 32
80809 Munich
Phone: 089 289 24492
E-mail: paulina.wasserfurth(at)tum.de
Text: Bastian Daneyko
Photos: Private/BISp/Laurin Schmid