The Claim
Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) exhibit substantial symptom overlap and share hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunctions, with both conditions associated with low energy and carbohydrate availability; therefore, many cases diagnosed as OTS in endurance athletes and other high-training-load populations may actually be misdiagnosed RED-S resulting from chronic under-fueling.
What the research says
Roughly balanced
Support and challenge are close. The picture may shift as more studies come in.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
If athletes train too much and don’t eat enough, they might be misdiagnosed with overtraining when the real issue is low energy from not fueling properly.
See the scientific wording
Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) share significant symptom overlap and common hypothalamic-pituitary origins, with both conditions being linked to low energy and carbohydrate availability, suggesting that many cases of OTS may be misdiagnosed RED-S due to under-fueling in endurance athletes and other high-training-load populations.
What the research says
1 studyThe study found that many athletes thought to be overtrained might actually just not be eating enough to fuel their workouts, which causes similar symptoms to overtraining but is really a problem of low energy from food.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.