How Sports Teams Can Build a Food-Positive Culture To Prevent RED-S & Disordered Eating
From the perspective of a sports dietitian
As we move through February 2026, an important month for eating disorder awareness, it’s a good time to talk about the role teams can play in supporting healthy fueling habits.
In my work with athletes, I see firsthand how team culture can either support or undermine an athlete’s relationship with food. When we build an environment where athletes feel safe talking about fueling, performance, and body image, we can help prevent both RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) and disordered eating. This allows athletes perform at their absolute best.
Understanding RED-S in Athletes
RED-S happens when an athlete isn’t eating enough to keep up with the energy they burn through training and daily life. This isn’t just about “being tired”, low energy availability affects almost every system in the body. Symptoms can include:
lower endurance
more frequent injuries
trouble concentrating
slower recovery
loss of menstrual cycle and consequently bone loss
For many athletes, RED-S can go unnoticed because “pushing through” becomes the norm. But newer research shows that most competitive athletes experience at least one symptom of RED-S. That tells us that education about fueling needs is essential, and not optional.
If you need support with RED-S as an athlete or would like information sessions about RED-S for your team, let’s talk!
As Sports Teams, How Can We Foster Food-Positive Cultures?
To reduce the risk of RED-S and disordered eating, teams need an environment where food is viewed as fuel and joy, not something to fear or restrict. Here are the strategies I encourage team management to adopt:
1. Prioritize Nutrition Education
Athletes need more than generic advice, they need ongoing, practical education about how to fuel for training, recovery, travel, and competition. This could be in the form of presentations, handouts, activities or practical hands-on workshops! Topics could include:
how much energy athletes actually need
what type of foods to prioritize during rest days, and training days
meal and snack prepping/cooking workshops
the role of carbs, protein, and fats
timing meals and snacks around training
recognizing early signs of low energy availability and when to seek help
understanding the potentially career-ending consequences of low energy availability
Bringing a sports dietitian into the conversation helps athletes get accurate, sport-specific guidance rather than relying on trends, social media, or restrictive advice.
2. Build Support and Accountability Within the Team
Team culture has a powerful influence on eating habits. When teammates model balanced eating and encourage one another to fuel properly, athletes are more likely to make supportive choices. Coaches also play a critical role: athletes watch what coaches say and what they don’t say. Interestingly, in surveys, players listed their coaches as people they trust the most when it comes to their training, information and habits.
When coaches talk about strength, performance, having positive relationships with food, and quality recovery, not just weight, athletes feel safer and more confident in their fueling choices.
3. Use Supportive and Clear Communication
How we talk about food and bodies matters. Small comments can have a big and long-lasting impact. Can you think of one of the first times someone made an off-putting comment about your food, weight or body? How old were you?
You’d be surprised at how young this type of stuff starts. Some as young as 5-10 years old, especially in athletes.
Instead of focusing on appearance, teams should encourage conversations that highlight:
how food supports performance
how recovery nutrition improves strength gains
how balanced meals support mood, focus, and energy
food and diet culture on a societal scale
problematic food marketing that could impact our own relationship wtih food
When athletes see food as an essential performance tool, their relationship with eating becomes healthier and more sustainable.
4. Establish Safeguarding Policies Against Body Shaming
Luckily, safeguarding in sports is becoming a more and more prevalent discussion topic. Teams should have clear expectations around body-related conversations. This includes:
no negative comments about weight or shape
no comparing athletes’ bodies
no using weigh-ins as punishment or motivation
referring your athletes to certified and sport-informed professionals in case you feel concerned about such topics
Coaches and staff should know how to spot harmful comments or behaviors and how to redirect the conversation in a supportive, factual way.
5. Involve Athletes in Nutrition Initiatives
Peer influence is incredibly strong. When athletes hear teammates share stories about improving their energy, recovery, or performance through better fueling, it normalizes these conversations. It also helps reduce shame and isolation around struggles with food or body image.
Is there anything more powerful than a “wow, you too?” moment?
Managing Comments on Body and Food Habits
Even in supportive environments, athletes can encounter comments that feel uncomfortable or triggering. Helping athletes develop tools to navigate these moments is key.
Educate About Body Diversity
Different sports, and different positions, require different bodies. Teaching athletes that strong, healthy bodies come in many shapes helps shift the focus from appearance to performance.
Teach Practical Communication Skills
Simple, assertive responses can help athletes shut down unwanted comments without conflict. Statements like:
“I’m focusing on fueling to support my performance.”
“My nutrition plan is based on my training needs.”
These empower athletes to stand firm in their choices. Being able to acknowledge the comments but not letting them cause your athletes to spiral enhances mental resilience within their sport.
Normalize Open, Non-Judgmental Conversations
Creating space where athletes can talk honestly about body image or food pressures reduces isolation and shame. Shame and eating disorders thrive in isolation. It helps athletes recognize that many others share similar experiences, and that support is available.
Again, is there anything more powerful than a “wow, you too?” moment?
Final Words
Building a food-positive culture isn’t just a “nice to have”, it is a “need to have”. It directly affects athletes’ health, performance, and long-term well-being. With strong education, supportive communication, and clear expectations around body-related comments, teams can dramatically reduce the risk of RED-S and disordered eating.
This February, let’s continue to create environments where athletes understand the value of fueling well, feel supported in their choices, and can perform at their best without sacrificing their physical or mental health.
If you need support with disordered eating as an athlete or would like information sessions about RED-S for your team, let’s talk!
Hope this helped!
Maria Tanielian
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionniste
IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition
ODNQ # 7223, CDBC # 2815, SDA # 949, CDO #16856
Studies Worth Reading With An Open Mind
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Logue, D., Madigan, S., Melin, A., Delahunt, E., Heinen, M., Donnell, S., … & Corish, C. (2020). Low energy availability in athletes 2020: an updated narrative review of prevalence, risk, within-day energy balance, knowledge, and impact on sports performance. Nutrients, 12(3), 835. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12030835
Melin, A., Torstveit, M., Burke, L., Marks, S., & Sundgot‐Borgen, J. (2014). Disordered eating and eating disorders in aquatic sports. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 24(4), 450-459. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2014-0029
Mey, J., Karpinski, C., Yang, S., Madere, J., Piattoly, T., Harper, R., … & Kirwan, J. (2023). Factors influencing nutritional intake and interests in educational content of athletes and sport professionals toward the development of a clinician-supported mobile app to combat relative energy deficiency in sport: formative research and a description of app functions. Jmir Formative Research, 7, e45098. https://doi.org/10.2196/45098
Mukherjee, S., Chand, V., Wong, X., Choong, P., Lau, V., Wang, S., … & Ng, K. (2016). Perceptions, awareness and knowledge of the female athlete triad amongst coaches – are we meeting the expectations for athlete safety?. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 11(4), 545-551. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954116654781
Stokes, E., Hughes, R., Shaw, D., O’Connor, H., & Beck, K. (2018). Perceptions and determinants of eating for health and performance in high-level male adolescent rugby union players. Sports, 6(2), 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6020049
Sánchez-Díaz, S., Yanci, J., Castillo, D., Scanlan, A., & Raya‐González, J. (2020). Effects of nutrition education interventions in team sport players. a systematic review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3664. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123664
Terenzio, A., Cassera, A., Gervasoni, A., Pozzi, A., Orlando, A., Greco, A., … & Cazzaniga, E. (2021). The impact of a nutritional intervention program on eating behaviors in italian athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7313. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147313
Torres-McGehee, T., Emerson, D., Pritchett, K., Moore, E., Smith, A., & Uriegas, N. (2020). Energy availability with or without eating disorder risk in collegiate female athletes and performing artists. Journal of Athletic Training, 56(9), 993-1002. https://doi.org/10.4085/jat0502-20
Wells, K., Jeacocke, N., Newcomer, R., Smith, H., Vlahovich, N., Burke, L., … & Hughes, D. (2020). The australian institute of sport (ais) and national eating disorders collaboration (nedc) position statement on disordered eating in high performance sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(21), 1247-1258. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101813
key words: food-positive team culture, RED-S prevention, disordered eating in athletes, relative energy deficiency in sport, athlete nutrition education, sports dietitian RED-S, fueling for performance, athlete mental health nutrition, team nutrition culture, coach athlete nutrition
