Aspire guide
Specific Populations
Specific Populations manual
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): The Hidden Epidemic in Jumpers
How the pressure to stay 'light' for vertical and horizontal jumps triggers severe metabolic and hormonal collapse.
Why this matters
Because the High Jump, Pole Vault, and Triple Jump heavily penalize excess body weight, athletes inherently face immense psychological pressure to stay as small and light as possible.
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3 min
Audience
Coach + Parent
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Specific Populations
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Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): The Hidden Epidemic in Jumpers
Read time
3 min
Audience
Coach + Parent
Start with the printable
Talk to a sports dietitian or doctor if you have concerns.
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Use it this week
Talk to a sports dietitian or doctor if you have concerns.
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Read the full ebook here, then jump to the one-page handout when you need the shareable version.
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Open the sections you need, print the handout, then send both to coaches, parents, or athletes.
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How the pressure to stay 'light' for vertical and horizontal jumps triggers severe metabolic and hormonal collapse.
WHAT IS RED-S?
RED-S means you're not eating enough fuel for your body.
- It happens when you train hard but don't take in enough calories.
- Your body goes into 'starvation mode' to save energy.
3 KEY SYSTEMS CAN SHUT DOWN
3 Body Systems
- Hormones (Endocrine)
- Bones (Skeletal)
HOW IT HURTS YOUR JUMPING
Weak Muscles: You can't build or keep explosive power.
- Broken Bones: Easy stress fractures, especially in your legs.
- Low Mood: Feeling sad, angry, or losing your drive to compete.
What is RED-S?
RED-S, formerly known as the Female Athlete Triad (though it heavily affects male jumpers as well), occurs when an athlete's caloric intake is insufficient to support both their…
RED-S, formerly known as the Female Athlete Triad (though it heavily affects male jumpers as well), occurs when an athlete's caloric intake is insufficient to support both their basal metabolic rate (basic living functions) and their heavy training load. The body essentially enters starvation mode.
The Physiological Shutdown
When a jumper lives in chronic Low Energy Availability (LEA), the brain begins shutting down "non-essential" systems to keep the heart beating and the lungs breathing.
The Affected System
The Clinical Pathology
The On-Track Consequence
**Endocrine (Hormones)**
Menstrual dysfunction in females. Testosterone drops in males.
Absolute inability to maintain or build explosive fast-twitch muscle fiber.
**Skeletal (Bones)**
The body halts bone turnover and calcium deposition to save energy (Osteopenia).
Inevitable, catastrophic stress fractures in the takeoff tibia, fibula, or navicular.
**Neurological (Brain)**
Central nervous system starvation and neurotransmitter depletion.
Clinical depression, severe irritability, and a total loss of competitive drive.
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Full access opens every section, the ebook PDF, and the printable handout companion.
What to do next
Use it this week
Talk to a sports dietitian or doctor if you have concerns.
Source topics
RED-S in jumpers • low energy availability track • eating disorders track • female athlete triad • metabolic damage