In late February, the latest research from a collaborative project on Relative Energy Deficiency in Female Endurance Athletes with the University of Agder (Norway), with the participation of Prof. Dr. Karsten Köhler and Dr. Paulina Wasserfurth, was published in the journal Nutrients. The title of the publication is "Effects of a 16-Week Digital Intervention on Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behavior in Female Endurance Athletes with Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)."
Female endurance athletes are considered a high-risk group for developing relative energy deficiency in sport (RED). Due to the lack of educational and behavioral intervention studies that target and assess the effects of practical daily management of REDs, the Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes-a Learning (FUEL) program was developed as part of the study. The FUEL program consisted of 16 weekly online lectures and individualized, athlete-centered, nutritional counseling every two weeks. Consequently, the present study examined whether the 16-week FUEL program improved the knowledge of sports nutrition and dietary behaviors of female endurance athletes compared with a 16-week control phase.
Results showed that the FUEL intervention improved sports nutrition knowledge. Weak evidence was found for improved sports nutrition behaviors in female endurance athletes with symptoms of REDs.
For more information, see the full text here.