What condition can arise from low energy availability in athletes?

The condition that arises from low energy availability in athletes is most accurately described as relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). This syndrome highlights the impact of insufficient energy intake on various bodily systems, leading to consequences in metabolic health, hormonal balance, and overall athletic performance.

While both the male and female athlete triads specifically address energy availability and its repercussions on health, RED-S expands on these concepts by recognizing that energy deficiency can affect all athletes, regardless of gender. This condition encompasses a broader range of issues, including impaired physiological function, decreased bone health, and reproductive health concerns, among others.

The female athlete triad specifically focuses on the interrelated conditions of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis, predominantly affecting female athletes. Although it's an important framework for understanding low energy availability, it does not capture the full spectrum of symptoms and complications that can occur in both male and female athletes under RED-S.

Overtraining syndrome, on the other hand, refers to a state of fatigue and decreased performance resulting from excessive training without adequate rest, rather than directly associating with energy availability.

In summary, while the female athlete triad is an important consideration for female athletes, RED-S is the more inclusive condition that arises from low energy availability and applies