Overtraining vs. Under-fueling
Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): Shared Pathways, Symptoms and Complexities
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers checked past studies to see if athletes feeling overtrained were actually just not eating enough.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
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Evidence Score
Based on clinical experience or non-systematic literature reviews. The lowest level of evidence as they are most susceptible to bias and personal perspective.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers checked past studies to see if athletes feeling overtrained were actually just not eating enough.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 51 / 5
Evidence Score
Based on clinical experience or non-systematic literature reviews. The lowest level of evidence as they are most susceptible to bias and personal perspective.
Publication
Authors
Stellingwerff T, Heikura IA, Meeusen R, Bermon S, Seiler S, Mountjoy ML, Burke LM
Related Content
Claims (4)
Some athletes who are told they're just overtrained might actually be low on fuel — their bodies aren't getting enough energy or carbs — which can look like overtraining but is really a different condition called RED-S.
Not eating enough calories or carbs can lead to serious health and performance problems in athletes, like burnout and hormonal issues.
Most studies show that when athletes push too hard and start showing signs of overtraining, they're often not eating enough calories or carbs to fuel their bodies.
Not eating enough calories can make you feel like you're overtraining, but you can still overtrain even if you're eating enough food and protein.