Authors
Réka Erika Kovács, Szilvia Boros, Ilona Liliána Birtalan
Published in
Orvosi hetilap. Volume 167. Issue 42. Pages 1702-1709. Oct 18, 2026. Epub Oct 18, 2026.
Abstract
Over the past two and a half decades, a substantial shift has occurred in the understanding of disordered eating and eating disorders among athletes. Research has gradually moved beyond the concept of the female athlete triad towards the model of relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), which recognizes low energy availability as a key factor affecting both athletes' health and performance. The aim of this study is to review the international literature published between 2000 and 2025 on disordered eating and eating disorders in athletes, with particular emphasis on prevalence, the contemporary interpretation of risk factors, the development of the REDs concept, and current recommendations for screening, treatment, and prevention. A thematic narrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. Publications and professional consensus statements addressing disordered eating, eating disorders, relative energy deficiency, screening, prevention, and multidisciplinary care in athletes were included in the analysis. The reviewed literature indicates that disordered eating behaviors are considerably more prevalent than clinically diagnosed eating disorders; however, both conditions adversely affect athletes' health and performance. The evidence also confirms that low energy availability is not exclusively associated with eating disorders but may also result from an imbalance between energy intake and exercise expenditure. The introduction of the REDs model substantially expanded the earlier female athlete triad concept by highlighting the involvement of male athletes, the role of psychological factors, and the multisystem consequences of low energy availability. Current international recommendations emphasize early identification, sport-specific risk assessment, and multidisciplinary care as the cornerstones of effective prevention and treatment. Contemporary approaches to nutrition-related problems in athletes consider disordered eating, eating disorders, and relative energy deficiency as interrelated conditions. The development of standardized multidisciplinary models of care consistent with current international recommendations would be warranted in Hungary. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(42): 1702-1709.
PMID:
42893500
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 19 Oct 2026.
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