Low Energy Availability (LEA) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) w/ Katie Schofield, Ph.D.

Total Performance with Siobhan Milner

Are you struggling with low energy availability? Do you know the signs and symptoms to look out for (even the less common ones)? What about how to navigate and help yourself so that you can continue sports if diagnosed?

In today's episode. I am speaking with fellow New Zealander, Katie Schofield, Ph.D., who is a former international track cyclist, registered nutritionist, and holds a Ph.D. with a specialty in LEA and RED-S which is exactly what we are diving into today.

We are getting to understand what Low Energy Availability (LEA) & Relative Energy Deficiency (RED-S) truly are, what symptoms can you expect to experience & how they can affect your daily life, how proper nutrition plays a role, and why having a coach that understands LEA & RED-S can make a world of difference in your growth and performance. Plus, if diagnosed with LEA or RED-S, then what should your next steps be?

While this may feel new, LEA & RED-S are actually very common and the continued research is edging toward many people being at risk for these. Katie is an amazing person to learn about this from since she did her doctoral research on it and was diagnosed with RED-S back in 2014. So she has massive amounts of experience and knowledge from both the educational and personal experience sides making her a great resource of information.

Whether you are curious about LEA & RED-S, think you may be experiencing the effects, or have already been diagnosed, this episode will answer your questions and more. Enjoy!

Did you learn something new about LEA & RED-S in this podcast? Did you have an AHA moment while listening? Let me know over on IG!

About Katie Schofield:

Katie was a former member of the NZ elite track cycling team between 2012-2016 and competed in multiple World Cup and World Championship events. Prior to her cycling career, she completed degrees in exercise science, nutrition, and a Master of Physical Education at the University of Otago, NZ. Katie retired from competitive cycling in mid-2016 to undertake a Ph.D. at the University of Waikato, which was inspired by being diagnosed with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) in 2014. Katie's doctoral research investigates the impact of energy deficiency on the body and the socio-cultural contributions to energy deficiency in elite athletes. Her future goals are to educate and inform exercising populations, using her research knowledge and personal experiences, to enhance their understanding of sport-science, health, nutrition, and athletic performance.

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Important Links:

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