Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and Dance

Summary

The International Olympic Committee recently published its consensus statement on relative energy deficiency syndrome (REDs) in sport which was followed by a similar version for dance by clinicians and researchers in dance. REDs is a complex multisystem syndrome with low energy availability as its foundation. Dancers and gymnasts, particularly in ballet, have long been reported to have body weight issues with an increase prevalence of eating disorders which has been associated with early onset osteoporosis. Combat sports have a similar issue, with athletes needing to "make weight" to compete in their ideal weight category that has lead to similar eating disorder and associated issues to dance. Currently there are no data on REDs prevalence in dance, gymnastics or combat sports and therefore understanding the underlying prevalence of REDs in both these populations will provide important information for both clinicians and coaches to help develop a safe and healthy environment for their dancers and athletes to compete/perform and to be able to retire from sport/dance without an increased risk of osteoporosis. In a few sports and dance genres, some participants might be more prone to a negative health effect referred to as relative energy deficiency syndrome (REDs). This is an energy deficiency relative to the balance between dietary energy intake and energy availability required to support homeostasis, health and activities of daily living, growth and sporting activities that can result in multiple systems being affected including decreases in bone health, energy metabolism, reproductive function, musculoskeletal health, immunity, glycogen synthesis and cardiovascular and haematological health. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of REDs in specific sports (combat sports and gymnastics) and dance genres (ballet and musical theatre). Voluntary participants will be tested three times a year over a 5-year period. This will include an annual dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and blood tests plus resting energy expenditure and questionnaires three times a year.

Conditions

• Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport
• Bone Stress Reaction

Interventions

RADIATION

Dual x-ray scan

Annual whole body scan monitoring bone mineral density for whole body, radius, L1-4 and femur and body composition

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Blood screen

Three times a year blood samples will be taken to measure: full blood count, ferritin, B12, folate, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), renal function, liver function, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), Free thyroxine (T4), luteinizing hormone (LH), oestradiol, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), coeliac screen, vitamin D (25(OH)D), Leptin and Ghrelin

OTHER

Questionnaires

Informed consent; Low energy availability questionnaires for males and females; General health including menstrual status (females)

OTHER

Anthropometric measurements

Three times a year participant's measurements will be taken: stature, body mass and body composition (bio-impedence)

PROCEDURE

Resting Metabolic rate

Resting metabolic rate will be measured by resting gas analysis. Each participant will lie down for a period of 15 minutes, in the final 5 minutes their expired gases are analysed using a breath-by-breath gas analyser (Cortex).

OTHER

Energy expenditure

Energy expenditure was estimated using accelerometery (Genieactive) and activity logs in the participants' normal environment, assessed during 3 weekdays of scheduled dance training and 2 weekend days without scheduled dance training. Focus is on daily energy expenditure

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Wolverhampton

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Roger Wolman, PhD · Honorary Professor

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-09-10

Primary Completion

2029-07-30

Completion

2029-07-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations