When to use this
Before any conversation where an athlete's size, weight, or eating might come up — read this first, not after.
- You are worried an athlete is under-fueling and need to raise it without making it about their body.
- A parent or assistant coach suggests an athlete would run faster if they lost weight.
- An athlete brings up their own weight and you need a response that helps instead of harms.
Advanced lab
The conversation frameworks, word for word
The sheet sets the guardrails. These are the exact phrases, redirect scripts, and the escalation line for the conversations coaches actually end up in.
These scripts are for adults supporting an athlete, never for putting an athlete on the spot. Anything beyond a fueling-and-readiness conversation belongs with sports medicine, a sports dietitian, and mental-health support — a coach's job ends at noticing, saying the caring sentence, and referring.
Evidence sources
These references support the handout’s general education. Individual medical, supplement, laboratory, or injury questions should be handled by the appropriate qualified clinician.
- Mountjoy M, Sundgot-Borgen JK, Burke LM, et al. (2023) IOC 2023 consensus statement on REDs. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57:1073-1098.
- De Souza MJ, Nattiv A, Joy E, et al. (2014) 2014 Female Athlete Triad Coalition consensus statement. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(4):289.
Where to go next
