EVIDENCE BASE FOR SPORT
Sports Nutrition
Sports nutrition involves the science and practice of eating to promote optimal health and performance. It plays an important role in supporting the performance of elite athletes.
The athlete’s background diet should meet their needs for growth and function—with special attention to the intake of nutrients (both timing and quantity) that support the fuel and fluid needs of training, and promote recovery and adaptation. The everyday training diet should support the athlete to stay healthy, maintain optimal body composition and support desirable physiological adaptations to training.
Key areas of research and practice
While there are a number of ways in which nutrition can impact the health and performance of athletes some key areas of research and application include:
Fluid and hydration strategies
Both hyper-hydration (total body water above normal) and hypo-hydration (total body water below normal) impair the body's ability to function.
- Hyper-hydration, also known as water intoxication, can decrease sodium in the blood to dangerously low levels, causing mild to life-threatening problems. People who participate in endurance activities, such as a marathon or triathlon, can be at risk. Symptoms can include: confusion, nausea, and vomiting. Severe cases can cause seizures, coma, and death.
- Hypo-hydration can impair the body's ability to regulate heat resulting in increased body temperature and an elevated heart rate. Perceived exertion is increased causing the athlete to feel more fatigued than usual at a given work rate. Mental function is reduced which can have negative implications for motor control, decision making, and concentration. Gastric emptying is also slowed, resulting in stomach discomfort. These effects can all lead to impaired exercise performance.
Fluid replacement plans will differ according to the athlete and the opportunities for drinking during the sport. Most types of exercise are adversely affected by hypohydration, especially when they are undertaken in hot conditions, and negative effects have been detected when fluid deficits are as low as 2% (i.e. a deficit of 1.2 litres for a 60 kg athlete). This can contribute to a condition called heat illness.
Additional information is available in the Clearinghouse topic, Heat Illness in Sport and Exercise.
Making weight (weight category sports)
There are a number of sports in which competition is conducted within weight limits or classes (e.g. boxing, combat sports, horse racing). The idea in these sports is to match opponents of equal size and capability. Some athletes however, will try to gain an advantage by competing in a weight class that is below their training weight. This can lead to 'extreme' practices—such as exercising in sweat suits; fluid and energy restriction; or diuretic and laxative use—which may be encouraged and condoned by people within the sport - despite the health risks to athletes.
It is strongly recommended that athletes involved in weight category sports seek the advice of a suitably qualified sports dietitian to individualise their weight management plans and short term weight-making techniques.
Nutritional strategies
Nutritional strategies can address the assessment of individual nutrition needs, performance goals, eating style, and capacity to eat well within living circumstances. Issues that require individualised attention include nutrient deficiencies (e.g. iron), body composition management, failure to recover well from training sessions, and specialised competition eating plans.
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) is a syndrome which can adversely affect the health and performance of athletes. It exists when there is a negative balance between dietary energy intake and the energy expenditure required to support optimal health, daily living activities, growth, and sport.
Although much of the research and literature relating to RED-S has been an outgrowth from studies of the Female Athlete Triad it is important to note that the condition can affect men and women, able-bodied and disabled populations, and individuals of various races.
RED-S can impair physiological functions including (but not limited to):
- Metabolic rate
- Menstrual function
- Bone health
- Immunity
- Protein synthesis
- Cardiovascular health
[Source: Margo Mountjoy et.al., (2014) The IOC consensus statement: beyond the Female Athlete Triad—Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 48, pp.491-497].
Additional information is available in the Clearinghouse Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport topic.
Further resources and reading
- IOC consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S): 2018 update, Mountjoy M, Sundgot-Borgen JK, Burke LM, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 52(11), (2018), pp.687-697.
- Beyond the Female Athlete Triad—Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Margo Mountjoy et.al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 48(7), (2014), pp.491-497.
- Authors’ 2015 additions to the IOC consensus statement: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Mountjoy M, Sundgot-Borgen J, Burke L, et.al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 49(7), (2015), pp.417-420.
- 2018 UPDATE: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), Dr Nicky Keay, British Journal of Sports Medicine blog, (30 May 2018). Provides a brief overview of changes made in the updated IOC consensus statement on RED-S.
- Breaking the silence on the mysterious syndrome hurting female athletes, Suzanne McFadden, Locker Room/stuff.co.nz, (17 December 2019). Katie Schofield, riding for New Zealand at the 2015 Oceania Track Cycling Championships after overcoming relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) syndrome; she's now studying the health of other cyclists.
- Relative energy deficiency in sport. Margo Mountjoy, Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal, Volume 4, (October 2015). Provides an overview of RED-S, the health and performance implications, RED-S in male athletes as well screening, treatment and return to play considerations. Additionally, there is information specific to aquatic sport athletes.
- What is relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)? Katherine Schaumberg, UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders, (6 April 2017). This blog post provides a quick overview of RED-S and techniques for determining if athletes are getting adequate food relative to their exercise output.
- Endocrine Effects of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, Kirsty J. Elliott-Sale, Adam S. Tenforde, Allyson L. Parziale, et al., International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, Volume 28(4), pp.335-349, (2018). This paper highlights endocrine changes that have been observed in female and male athletes with low EA. Where studies are not available in athletes, results of studies in low EA states, such as anorexia nervosa, are included. Dietary intake/appetite-regulating hormones, insulin and other glucose-regulating hormones, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1, thyroid hormones, cortisol, and gonadal hormones are all discussed. The effects of low EA on body composition, metabolic rate, and bone in female and male athletes are presented, and we identify future directions to address knowledge gaps specific to athletes.
- Female Recreational Exercisers at Risk for Low Energy Availability. Joanne Slater, Rebecca McLay-Cooke, Rachel Brown, and Katherine Black, Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, Volume 26 (5), (October 2016), pp.421-427. One-hundred and nine female recreational exercisers, with a mean age of 23.8 (SD 6.9) years were recruited via gyms and fitness centers throughout NZ. Participants completed an online questionnaire including questions from the LEAF-Q (Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire). A total of 45.0% (CI, 35.4%, 54.8%) of participants were classified as “at risk“ of LEA. For every extra hour of exercise per week the odds of being at risk of LEA were 1.13 times greater (CI 1.02, 1.25, p = .016). All participants reporting previous stress fracture injuries (n = 4) were classified as at risk for LEA. Significantly more subjects participating in an individual sport were classified as at risk for LEA (69.6%, CI 24.3%, 54.8%) compared with team sports (34.8%, CI 18.7%, 40.5%) (p = .006). The high prevalence of female recreational exercisers at risk of LEA is of concern, emphasizing the importance of increasing awareness of the issue, and promoting prevention and early detection strategies, so treatment can be implemented before health is severely compromised.
- Low energy availability in females: A sleeping giant, Lundy B, Burke L, Vlahovich N, Welvaert M, Hughes D, Waddington G and Drewa M, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 20, Supplement 1 (2017). Low energy availability can occur when an athlete restricts their energy intake and/or increases the volume or intensity of training, with the consequence that there is no longer sufficient energy to fulfil the functions needed to stay healthy. While the previous focus on low energy availability targeted menstrual function and bone health, there is now evidence that the consequences are wider ranging. This study suggests that female athletes who present with illness should be screened for low energy availability. Assistance to better match nutrition and training may improve resilience against illness as well as other aspects of health and performance.
- Low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and impaired bone health: A survey of elite para athletes, Emily M. Brook Adam S. Tenforde Elizabeth M. Broad, et al., Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, Volume 29(5), pp.678-685, (2019). Factors associated with the Triad/RED‐S were present in an elite para athlete population, regardless of sex or sport type. Awareness of the Triad/RED‐S in para athletes was low. The consequences of LEA in para athlete populations are poorly understood. However, the high prevalence of factors observed suggests value in advancing screening tools and education efforts to optimize health in this population.
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport in Male Athletes: A Commentary on Its Presentation Among Selected Groups of Male Athletes, Louise M. Burke, Graeme L. Close, Bronwen Lundy, et al., International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, Volume 28(4), pp.364-374, (2018). This commentary describes the insights and experience of the current group of authors around the apparently heightened risk of LEA in some populations of male athletes: road cyclists, rowers (lightweight and open weight), athletes in combat sports, distance runners, and jockeys. The frequency, duration, and magnitude of the LEA state appear to vary between populations. Common risk factors include cyclical management of challenging body mass and composition targets (including “making weight”) and the high energy cost of some training programs or events that is not easily matched by energy intake. However, additional factors such as food insecurity and lack of finances may also contribute to impaired nutrition in some populations. Collectively, these insights substantiate the concept of RED-S in male athletes and suggest that a specific understanding of a sport, subpopulation, or culture may identify a complex series of factors that can contribute to LEA and the type and severity of its outcomes.
- RED-S CAT: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S_ Clinical Assessment Tool (CAT), British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 49(7), pp.421-423, (2015). The RED-S Clinical Assessment Tool (RED-S CAT) has been developed by the IOC working group as a tool to help sports medicine professionals with the practical screening and management of RED-S athletes. The tool is modelled after the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT-3) which has been successfully used in clinical practice. The RED-S Risk Assessment and Return to Play (RTP) models use a Red Light (high risk) – Yellow Light (caution) – Green Light (low risk) scale to help evaluate athletes/active individuals suspected of having relative energy deficiency and for guiding return to play decisions. The model is flexible enough to allow sports medicine professionals to apply their knowledge of sport-specific demands and individual characteristics to the decision making paradigm.
Licencing restrictions apply to some resources.
All Clearinghouse members
'Australian' members only
'High Performance' members only
Restricted access
Various restrictions
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), Kathryn E. Ackerman, Medical Director, Female Athlete Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Associate Director, Sports Endo Research Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital, Team Physician, USA Rowing, Australian Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Seminar Series (15 February 2018)
- Periodisation of energy availibility, Bronwyn Lundy, Senior Sports Dietitian, AIS, AIS Sports Nutrition Periodisation Workshop (21 November 2017) (Restricted to Australian Sports Nutrition Network Members)
- Low energy availability, Dr Anna Melin, University of Copenhagen, Silent Contributors to Injury Illness Performance, Charlesworth Theatrette, AIS (19 March 2016)
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, Professor Louise Burke, Australian Institute of Sport, Silent Contributors to Injury Illness Performance, Charlesworth Theatrette, AIS (19 March 2016)
- Relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S): What is it and what are the consequences? Dr Anna Melin, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Australian Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Seminar Series (10 April 2015)
- Ferritin and the issues with how and when to treat athletes, Dr Karl “Bert” Fields, Medical Director, Sports Medicine Center, Cone Health System, Greensboro, North Carolina, SmartTalk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (12 February 2015)
- Energy Availability and impact on bone, Assoc Professor Madhusmitra Misra, Massachusetts General Hospital, Bone Health in Sport Symposium (01 February 2014)
- Energy Availability and impact on bone, Professor Louise Burke, Head of Nutrition, AIS, Bone Health in Sport Symposium (01 February 2014)
- The Female Athlete Triad, Professor Melinda Manore, Oregon State University, Australian Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Seminar Series (13 April 2012)
- Understanding the female athlete – a discussion on collaboration: Identifying priority / common areas of interest, Sue Robson, Head of Physiology, Sport Scotland Institute of Sport, Australian Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Series (17 April 2012)
Other Videos
- Katie Schofield Interview: Goal setting, dealing with disappointment and RED-S. Katie Schofield & Matty Graham, Exponential Performance Podcast/YouTube, (18 July 2017). Katie Schofield went from athletics to a world class track cyclist. As part of this podcast she discusses: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, her experiences and research (starts: 28.30).
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Dr Margo Mountjoy, Aspetar/YouTube, (30 March 2015). Dr Margo Mountjoy talks about the pathophysiology and evolution of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). She discusses the implications of RED-S in terms of health and performance and how male athletes are affected. In addition to this, Dr Mountjoy proposes the RED-S clinical assessment tools for screening and return to play.
- Female Athlete Triad and Its Components: Toward Improved Screening and Management, Mayo Proceedings/YouTube, (3 September 2013). Dr. Asma Javed, a Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Endocrinology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, provides clarity to the condition known as "Female Athlete Triad" as a range of conditions surrounding disordered eating, amenorrhea, and bone loss in women athletes, which is best treated with nutrition repletion.
Supplements (policies and guidelines)
The use of supplements and sports foods by athletes involves a balance between potential benefits (e.g. contribution to an evidence-based sports nutrition program) and risks (e.g. waste of resources, distraction, poor role modelling, or anti-doping rule violations).
- The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has developed a world-leading supplement classification system. The ABCD Classification system ranks sports foods and supplement ingredients into four groups based on scientific evidence and other practical considerations that determine whether a product is safe, legal, and effective in improving sports performance.
- Sports and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) Supplement use in Sport Position Statement. BDA: the Association of UK Dietitians, (June 2017). The aim of this position statement is to provide Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) with a guide to appropriately assess the need for supplementation, assess the risk of supplementation, understand the consequences of taking supplements from an anti-doping perspective, and provide practical guidelines and tools for the safe usage in order to support athletes and ASP.
- Get informed about supplements: your frequently asked questions about supplements in grassroots sport. Play by the Rules, special magazine issue (2016). Supplements are not just 'good' or just 'bad', that's why it's very important you know what's right for you - because what's right for one person is not necessarily what is right for another. Play by the Rules provides some answers to commonly asked questions on supplements in grassroots sport.
Australian supplement policies and guidelines
- Supplement policy Athletics Australia, (June 2020).
- Sport Science and Sports Medicine Policy, Basketball Australia, (January 2016). Supplementation Policy (p.4).
- Supplement Policy, Paddle Australia, (February 2020)
- 2019-20 Supplement policy, Cricket Australia, (30 June 2019).
- High Performance Network: Supplements policy, Cycling Australia, (version 3.1; June 2019).
- High Performance Network: Supplements program and supplement provision protocol, Cycling Australia, (version 4.1; accessed 20 August 2020).
- Sports supplements and medication guidelines, Football Federation Australia, (September 2013).
- Sports Science and Sports Medicine policy, Hockey Australia, (4 March 2019). Chapter 6: Supplementation policy; Chapter 7: Medication policy; Chapter 8: Injection policy.
- Integrity Framework: Rule B - Supplements and other substances in netball rule, Netball Australia, (24 February 2017). Chapter 6: Supplementation policy; Chapter 7: Medication policy; Chapter 8: Injection policy.
- Sports Foods, Medical and Performance Supplement Policy, Rowing Australia, (1 May 2019)
- Supplements, National Rugby League, (accessed 20 August 2020). All clubs have a Supplements Committee which approves the use of supplements at your club after assessing their benefits, safety, and compliance with the NRL Anti-Doping Policy. Do not take any supplement, or medication for that matter, without approval. If you want to use a supplement, you must get approval from the Club Supplement Committee. The best person to speak to about this is your Club Doctor who will then get that supplement assessed by the Committee.
- Sports Supplements Policy, Rugby Australia, (updated 1 January 2017).
- 2019-20 Supplement policy, Australian Sailing, (accessed 20 August 2020).
- Sport Science and Sport Medicine, Shooting Australia, (November 2018). Need to click on the 'Sports Science and Sports Medicine Policy' link under Integrity Framework section: Chapter 3: Supplementation policy; Chapter 4: Medication policy; Chapter 5: Injection policy.
- Sport Science and Sport Medicine, Softball Australia, (23 July 2020). Chapter 3: Supplementation policy; Chapter 4: Medication policy; Chapter 5: Injection policy.
- Supplements policy, Sport Climbing Australia, (August 2017).
- Sports Science and Sports Medicine Policy, Squash Australia, (August 2018). Chapter 3: Supplementation policy.
- Supplement policy, Swimming Australia, (August 2017)
- Supplements, Australian Taekwondo, (11 December 2018)
- Sport Science and Sport Medicine Framework, Touch Football Australia, (2017). Chapter 2: 1.1: Supplementation policy.
- Sports Science and Sports Medicine Best Practice Principles, Triathlon Australia, (10 August 2020). Annexure A: Triathlon Australia Dietary Supplements Policy.
- Sports Substances and Supplements Policy, Volleyball Australia, (30 April 2015).
- Sports Substances and Supplements Policy, Water Polo Australia, (22 November 2014).
- Sport Science and Sport Medicine, Australian Ice Racing, (1 March 2019). Supplementation policy; Medication policy; Injection policy.
- Supplements policy, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, (30 September 2019).
- Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) supplement framework (March 2021)
- South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) Supplements policy (16 September 2014).
- Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) supplements information (accessed 20 August 2020).
- Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) Supplements policy (version 2.5; 2020)
Sport Integrity Australia
- Supplements advice, (accessed 20 August 2020).
- Clean Sport is a mobile app which lists supplements sold on Australian shelves, which have been certified by HASTA or Informed Sport, and provides a risk analysis for other supplements athletes may be considering. It is available on Apple and Android devices.
- Online education. Free and easy-to-use tool featuring online courses, videos and learning updates about the key areas of anti-doping such as prohibited substances and methods, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, doping control, intelligence and investigations.
Play by the Rules
- Supplements: Know what you are doing [ebook], special magazine issue, (2016). Supplements are not just 'good' or just 'bad', that's why it's very important you know what's right for you - because what's right for one person is not necessarily what is right for another. Play by the Rules provides some answers to commonly asked questions on supplements in grassroots sport.
World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA)
- World Anti-Doping Code (2015)
- Prohibited List (January 2020)
Resources
Groups, societies and professional bodies
The main professional bodies in Australia are:
- Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA) is a professional organisation of dietitians specialising in the field of sports nutrition. SDA maintains strong links with Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) and Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA).
- Dietitians Australia (DA) is the peak body of dietetic and nutrition professionals in Australia providing strategic leadership in food and nutrition through empowerment, advocacy, education, accreditation and communication.
International
- International Confederation of Dietetic Associations (ICDA) is an organization of national associations of Dietitians-Nutritionists. The national associations that belong to ICDA represent well over 200,000 Dietitians-Nutritionists, from over 50 countries world-wide.
- International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) is a non-profit academic society dedicated to promoting the science and application of evidence-based sports nutrition and supplementation.
- Professionals in Nutrition for Exercise and Sport (PINES) is a nonprofit organisation focused on linking professionals in nutrition, exercise, and sport around the globe.
- Dietitians of Canada (DC) is the professional association representing 6,000 members at the local, provincial, and national levels with regional offices in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Territories, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
- European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA). ESSNA was founded in 2003 with the intention of creating a forum for discussion and vehicle for actions on the concerns of the specialist sports nutrition sector in order to secure appropriate and proportionate European legislation on sports nutrition products.
- European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) was established in 1978 to promote and develop the dietetic profession; facilitate communication between national dietetic associations and other organisations and individuals; and encourage better nutrition for the population of European member countries.
- Dietitians New Zealand is New Zealand’s professional association for registered dietitians.
- BDA: the Association of UK Dietitians - Sports Nutrition Specialist Group is for dietitians and nutritionists who work in sport or have an interest in sport. the aim of the group is to provide professional development opportunities; develop resources to support; and act as a voice for dietitians/nutritionists working in sport and exercise nutrition.
- Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) is a voluntary register designed to accredit suitably qualified and experienced registrants, who have the competency to work autonomously as a Sport and Exercise Nutritionist with performance oriented athletes, as well as those participating in physical activity, sport, and exercise for health.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Sports Dietetics-USA is dedicated to promoting nutrition practices that enhance lifelong health and advancing the vocation of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.
Vocational education and training
The majority of sports nutrition professionals in Australia are dietitians. In addition to studying human nutrition, a dietitian has undertaken a course of study that includes substantial theory and supervised and assessed professional practice in clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, and food service management.
According to Dietitians Australia, Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are committed to improving the health of Australians through the provision of accurate practical nutrition information. The requirements for becoming an APD include an aptitude for science, an enquiring mind, good organisation skills, initiative, good written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work well with others. The Association also gives a list of currently accredited dietetic programs provided at Australian universities.
Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA) provides a career pathway for aspiring dietitians to gain qualifications and accreditation with the association. Members are required to accrue points for professional development and professional experience and log these via the members only section of the website. SDA offers courses in sports nutrition for dietitians.
The International Confederation of Dietetic Associations also provides International Competency Standards for Dietitian-Nutritionists (2016). These are the minimum recommended competencies that any dietetics practitioner should demonstrate at the point of entry to the profession, and act as a framework for continued professional development throughout professional life.
Industry leading sports dietitians are committed to maintaining and improving their skills with a focus on best practice. For example, many sports dietitians who work with elite athletes are accredited anthropometrists through the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Professional development is encouraged by means of regular journal clubs, mentoring, attendance at national and international conferences, and upgrading of qualifications through completing masters or PhD studies. The International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition can also be completed as an additional qualification.
Professional experience
Opportunities for professional experience are often facilitated through university undergraduate programs. National Institute Network (NIN) organisations, National Sport Organisations (NSOs), State Sport Organisations (SSOs), professional sport clubs, and local sport clubs can also provide opportunities for undergraduate and post graduate students to gain professional experience.
Professional Accreditation
In December 2017 the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) announced the introduction of a national accreditation scheme for sport scientists. The scheme is run in partnership with Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and the Australian Strength & Conditioning Association (ASCA).
In August 2020 the AIS released the Sports Science Sports Medicine Practitioner Minimum Standards. These standards represent the mandatory minimum standards for SSSM staff and contractors engaged to deliver services in these disciplines of practice (including nutrition) by National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) that are subject to the AIS SSSM Best Practice Principles via their Sport Investment Agreement. They will also guide the minimum SSSM personnel requirements of the National Institute Network (NIN).
Position and consensus statements
- Disordered eating in high performance sport, Kimberley Wells, Nikki Jeacocke, Renee Appaneal, Hilary Smith, Nicole Vlahovich, Louise Burke, David Hughes, Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), (September 2020). The Australian Institute of Sport and the National Eating Disorders Collaboration have collaborated to provide this position statement, containing guidelines for athletes, coaches, support staff, clinicians and sporting organisations. The guidelines support the prevention and early identification of disordered eating, and promote timely intervention to optimise nutrition for performance in a safe, supported, purposeful and individualised manner. This position statement is a call to action to all involved in sport to be aware of poor self-image and poor body image among athletes. The practical recommendations should guide the clinical management of disordered eating in high performance sport.
- Additional information and resources for high performance and community sport are available on the AIS website.
- Evidence-based position statements and best practice guidelines, Australian Institute of Sport, (accessed 21 August 2020). The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) develops evidence-based position statements on new and complex topics in sports science and sports medicine, in order to provide guidance and leadership for the Australian high performance sport system.
- Sports Dietitians Australia Position Statement: Sports nutrition for the adolescent athlete, Desbrow, B., McCormack, J., Burke, L. M., et.al., International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, Volume 24(5), pp.570-584, (2014). It is the position of Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA) that adolescent athletes have unique nutritional requirements as a consequence of undertaking daily training and competition in addition to the demands of growth and development. As such, SDA established an expert multidisciplinary panel to undertake an independent review of the relevant scientific evidence and consulted with its professional members to develop sports nutrition recommendations for active and competitive adolescent athletes.
- International Association of Athletics Federations Consensus Statement 2019: Nutrition for Athletics, Louise M. Burke, Linda M. Castell, Douglas J. Casa, et.al, Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, Volume 29(2), pp.73-84, (March 2019). This consensus statement provides a summary of the contemporary principles of sports nutrition, identifying strategies that may be used by competitors in Athletics to enjoy a long, healthy, and successful career in their chosen event. The focus targets high-performance Athletes, while acknowledging the needs of some special elite populations (e.g., adolescents, females, masters) as well as the opportunity for the many nonelite competitors who enjoy Athletics (e.g., recreational marathon runners) to benefit from an appropriate translation of these principles into their own pursuits.
- Consensus Statement Immunonutrition and Exercise. Bermon, Stéphane; Castell, Lindy M.; Calder, Philip C. et.al., Exercise Immunology Review, Volume 23, pp.8-50, (2017). A panel of knowledgeable contributors from across the globe provides a consensus of updated science, including the background, the aspects for which a consensus actually exists, the controversies and, when possible, suggested directions for future research.
- International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. Ralf Jäger, Chad M. Kerksick, Bill I. Campbell, et.al., Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Volume 14, Article 20, (June 2017). The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) provides an objective and critical review related to the intake of protein for healthy, exercising individuals.
- International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: diets and body composition. Aragon, Alan A., Brad J. Schoenfeld, Robert Wildman, et.al., Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Volume 14, article 16, (June 2017). The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on a critical analysis of the literature regarding the effects of diet types (macronutrient composition; eating styles) and their influence on body composition.
- International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: energy drinks, Campbell, Bill, Colin Wilborn, Paul La Bounty, et.al., Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Volume 10, Article 1, (January 2013). The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on a critical analysis of the literature on the safety and efficacy of the use of energy drinks (ED) or energy shots (ES).
- International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: caffeine and peformance, Goldstein, Erica R., Tim Ziegenfuss, Doug Kalman, et,al., Journal International Society of Sports Nutrition, Volume 7, Article 5, (January 2010) The position of The Society regarding caffeine supplementation and sport performance.
- IOC consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S): 2018 update, Mountjoy M, Sundgot-Borgen JK, Burke LM, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 52(11), pp.687-697, (2018). The IOC RED-S consensus authors have reconvened to provide an update summary of the interim scientific progress in the field of relative energy deficiency with the ultimate goal of stimulating advances in RED-S awareness, clinical application and scientific research to address current gaps in knowledge.
- IOC consensus statement: beyond the Female Athlete Triad—Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), Mountjoy, Margo, Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen, Louise Burke, et.al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 48(7), pp.491-497, (2014). Protecting the health of the athlete is a goal of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC convened an expert panel to update the 2005 IOC Consensus Statement on the Female Athlete Triad. This Consensus Statement replaces the previous and provides guidelines to guide risk assessment, treatment and return-to-play decisions.
- IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete, Maughan RJ, Burke LM, Dvorak J, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 52(7), pp.439-455, (2018). Nutrition usually makes a small but potentially valuable contribution to successful performance in elite athletes, and dietary supplements can make a minor contribution to this nutrition programme. The appropriate use of some supplements can benefit the athlete, but others may harm the athlete’s health, performance, and/or livelihood and reputation (if an antidoping rule violation results). This review summarises the issues faced by high-performance athletes and their support team (coach, trainer, nutritionist, physician) when considering the use of supplements, with the goal of providing information to assist them to make informed decisions.
- Sports and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) Supplement use in Sport Position Statement. BDA: the Association of UK Dietitians, (June 2017). The aim of this position statement is to provide Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) with a guide to appropriately assess the need for supplementation, assess the risk of supplementation, understand the consequences of taking supplements from an antidoping perspective and provide practical guidelines and tools for the safe usage in order to support athletes and ASP.
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Position Statement: Evaluation of Dietary Supplements for Performance Nutrition, Jackie L. Buell; Rob Franks; Jack Ransone, et.al., Journal of Athletic Training, Volume 48(1), pp.124-136, (2013). To help athletic trainers promote a ‘‘food-first’’ philosophy to support health and performance, understand federal and sport governing body rules and regulations regarding dietary supplements and banned substances, and become familiar with reliable resources for evaluating the safety, purity, and efficacy of dietary supplements.
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Exertional Heat Illnesses, Douglas J. Casa; Julie K. DeMartini; Michael F. Bergeron, et.al., Journal of Athletic Training, Volume 50(9), pp.986-1000, (2015). Presents best-practice recommendations for the prevention, recognition, and treatment of exertional heat illnesses (EHIs) and to describe the relevant physiology of thermoregulation.
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Preventing, Detecting, and Managing Disordered Eating in Athletes, Christine M. Bonci; Leslie J. Bonci; Lorita R. Granger, et al, Journal of Athletic Training, Volume 43(1), pp.80-108, (2008). Present recommendations for the prevention, detection, and comprehensive management of disordered eating (DE) in athletes.
- National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Safe Weight Loss and Maintenance Practices in Sport and Exercise, Paula Sammarone Turocy; Bernard F. DePalma; et.al., Journal of Athletic Training, Volume 46(3), pp.322-336, (2011). Provides athletic trainers with recommendations for safe weight loss and weight maintenance practices for athletes and active clients and to provide athletes, clients, coaches, and parents with safe guidelines that will allow athletes and clients to achieve and maintain weight and body composition goals.
- Nutrition and Athletic Performance: Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance, D. Travis Thomas, Kelly Anne Erdman, Louise M. Burke, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 116(3)m pp.501-528, (2016) It is the position of Dietitians of Canada, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American College of Sports Medicine that the performance of, and recovery from, sporting activities are enhanced by well-chosen nutrition strategies.
- Preseason Heat-Acclimatization Guidelines for Secondary School Athletics, Douglas J. Casa and David Csillan, Journal of Athletic Training, Volume 44(3), pp.332-333, (2009). The Inter-Association Task Force for Preseason Secondary School Athletics, in conjunction with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee, recommends that these ‘‘Preseason Heat-Acclimatization Guidelines for Secondary School Athletics’’ be implemented by all secondary school athletic programs. These guidelines should be used for all preseason conditioning, training, and practice activities in a warm or hot environment, whether these activities are conducted indoors or outdoors.
Further resources and reading
Access to resources
Where possible, direct links to full-text and online resources are provided. However, where links are not available, you may be able to access documents directly by searching our licenced full-text databases (note: user access restrictions apply). Alternatively, you can ask your institutional, university, or local library for assistance—or purchase documents directly from the publisher. You may also find the information you’re seeking by searching Google Scholar.
- Sports nutrition for paralympic athletes, Broad, E, Taylor & Francis, (2014). (held by Clearinghouse for Sport, GV445.B76 2014)
- Caffeine for sports performance, Burke, Desbrow and Spriet, Human Kinetics, (2013). (held by Clearinghouse for Sport, TX361.A8.B87 2013)
- Clinical Sports Nutrition [5th Edition]. Burke L and Deakin V, McGraw Hill, (2015). (held by Queensland Academy of Sport, TX361.A8.C55)
- Sports nutrition : practical guidelines for the sports physician, Chapter 20 in Olympic textbook of medicine in sport, ed. by M. Schwellnus, Wiley-Blackwell, (2009). (held by Clearinghouse for Sport, RC1210.O46)
- Practical Sports Nutrition. Burke L, Human Kinetics, (2007). (held by Clearinghouse for Sport, TX361.A8.B89)
- Survival Cookbooks Burke L, et al, NSW Murdoch Magazines. Series of cookbooks.
- The Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine: An IOC Medical Commission Publication, 2nd Edition, Volume XIX, Sports Nutrition, Maughan R, Wiley-Blackwell, (2013).
- Sports Nutrition A Practice Manual for Professionals, Edition 6, Kapinsky C and Rosenbllom C (eds.), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, (2017).
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
- European Journal of Applied Physiology
- European Journal of Sport Science
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
- Journal of Nutrition
- Journal of Sport Medicine and Physical Fitness
- Journal of Sports Sciences
- Journal of The American Nutrition Association
- Journal of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Journal of The International Society of Sports Nutrition
- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
- Sports Medicine
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition, and The Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association are working together to provide nutrition information on the topic of health and safety for collegiate athletes, coaches, administrators and others through the development of Articles and Webinars.
- Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements (US), (accessed 29 January 2018). This fact sheet provides an overview of selected ingredients in dietary supplements designed or claimed to enhance exercise and athletic performance.
- Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance: Fact Sheet for Consumers, National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements (US), (accessed 29 January 2018). This fact sheet describes what’s known about the effectiveness and safety of many ingredients in dietary supplements that are promoted to improve exercise and athletic performance.
- International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Provides a variety of resources relating to Nutrition in Athletics including: Eating and exercise during Ramadan; nutrition for special populations and event types; Nutrition for athletics: The 2019 IAAF Consensus Statement; and the IAAF Medical Manual Chapter 6: Nutrition.
- mysportscience, Asker Jeukendrup. Provides a variety of infographics, videos and blog posts on research in sport nutrition and other related disciplines.
- Sports Dietitians Australia. Website includes Fact sheets, Recipes and a Blog.
- YLMSportScience infographics. Provides a broad range of infographics summarising research in sport nutrition and other related disciplines.
- National Institute Network Research. Recently published sport science/sports medicine research from National Institute Network (NIN) researchers. This list is updated on a monthly basis.
Licencing restrictions apply to some resources.
All Clearinghouse members
'Australian' members only
'High Performance' members only
Restricted access
Various restrictions
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), Kathryn E. Ackerman, Medical Director, Female Athlete Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Associate Director, Sports Endo Research Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital, Team Physician, USA Rowing, Australian Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Seminar Series (15 February 2018)
- AIS Sports Nutrition Periodisation Workshop, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (21-22 November 2017) (restricted to NIN Sport Nutrition Network members only)
- Nutrition considerations and monitoring in taper and competition, Greg Shaw, Senior Sports Dietitian, Australian Institute of Sport, Swimming Australia Twin Peaks Conference, (12 September 2017)
- Collagen Research and Possible Applications for High Performance Athletes, Dr. Steffen Oesser, PhD, Director Collagen Research Institute, Kiel, Germany, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, (18 May 2017)
- Periodisation of Dietary Intake – New science from Project Supernova and possible applications, Professor Louise Burke, Head of Sports Nutrition, AIS and Joint Appointment with Australian Catholic University, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, (24 April 2017)
- Iron/Hepcidin and iron supplementation in athletes, Dr Peter Peeling, University of Western Australia, Silent Contributors to Injury - Illness - Performance, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (19 March 2016)
- Low energy availability, Dr Anna Melin, University of Copenhagen, Silent Contributors to Injury - Illness - Performance, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (19 March 2016)
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, Professor Louise Burke, Australian Institute of Sport, Silent Contributors to Injury - Illness - Performance, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (19 March 2016)
- Gluten Free: Cure or Fad?, Dana Lis, University of Tasmania, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (4 September 2015)
- Sodium Bicarbonate: A contemporary perspective on mechanism and application, Dr Jason Siegler, Associate Professor, Sport & Exercise Science, University of Western Sydney,Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (15 June 2015)
- Relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S) – what is it and what are the consequences?, Dr Anna Melin, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (10 April 2015)
- Ferritin and the issues with how and when to treat athletes, Dr Karl "Bert" Fields, Medical Director, Sports Medicine Center, Cone Health System, Greensboro, North Carolina, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (12 February 2015)
- The Role of Caffeine in Sport, Dr Jason Mazanov and Professor Louise Burke, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (30 July 2014)
- Energy and dietary demands of pool and open water swimming, Dr David Costill, Ball State University, XIIth International Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (29 April 2014)
- Supplement Symposium, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (13-14 February 2014)
- 2014 Bone Health in Sport Symposium, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (1-2 February 2014)
- National Summit on Medications and Supplements in Sport, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (1-2 October 2013)
- Nutrition for Age Group Swimmers, Greg Shaw, AIS Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (24 September 2013)
- Understanding the female athlete – a discussion on collaboration: Identifying priority / common areas of interest - Sue Robson, Head of Physiology, Sport Scotland Institute of Sport, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (17 Apr 2012)
- Women in Sport - The Female Athlete Triad - Professor Melinda Manore, Oregon State University, Smart Talk Seminar Series , Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (13 April 2012)
- Research in the intake of beetroot juice and enhanced sports performance - Prof. Andy Jones, University of Exeter, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (14 April 2011)
- Maximizing exercise-induced gains in muscle mass: practical lessons in what, how much, and when to eat - Professor Stuart Phillips, Ph.D., FACN, FACSM - Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Canada, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (7 April 2010)
- Nutritional and training strategies to enhance swimming performance - Tom Vandenbogaerde - Performance Monitoring Physiologist - Sport Science Manager Swimming New Zealand, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (15 February 2010)
- Creatine - reflections from the horse's mouth - Professor Roger Harris, formerly of the University of Chichester UK, Smart Talk Seminar Series , Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (24 November 2009)
- Ramadan fasting in London 2012, Professor Louise Burke, Head of AIS Nutrition, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (4 September 2009)
- Train low with carbohydrates - is there a case?, Professor Louise Burke, Head of AIS Nutrition, Smart Talk Seminar Series , Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (4 November 2009)
- Body weight regulation, Professor Chris Melby, AIS Visiting Scholar, Head of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra (8 May 2008)
- How much does an elite rower really eat? Rowing Australia, YouTube, (1 June 2016). The Australian Rowing Team's lead Nutritionist, Bronwen Lundy, takes us through the average food consumption of Australia's top rowers while also sharing some helpful tips for up-and-coming rowers.
- IOC Diploma Sports Nutrition. International Olympic Committee, YouTube, (accessed 9 October 2020). Contains a large number of short videos with various experts regarding topics relevant to sport nutrition.
Reviewed by: Australasian Sport Information Network
Last updated: 01 January 2020
Content disclaimer: See Clearinghouse for Sport disclaimer