Supporting Disordered Eating & RED-S in Athletes with Aidan Custy

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Aidan Custy, a registered dietitian and sports nutritionist with a background in CAMHS eating disorders. Aidan combines his expertise in eating disorder recovery and sports performance to support athletes in fueling their bodies without falling into restrictive patterns.

Key Takeaways:

• The pressures on athletes to look or perform a certain way.
• How disordered eating can develop within sports culture.
• What Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) is and its impact.
• Signs & symptoms of under-fueling, including changes in performance, menstrual cycles, and immunity.
• The pyramid of things worth worrying about when it comes to nutrition.
• The importance of finding balance between optimal performance and mental wellbeing.
• Challenging myths around body shape, food, and athletic success.

Timestamps:

[05:15] Why athletes are at higher risk of disordered eating and the pressures they face.

[14:00] Understanding RED-S: What it is, who it affects, and how it shows up in athletes.

[22:50] Common signs of under-fueling and its impact on hormones, bone density, and performance.

[31:40] The pyramid of sports nutrition: what matters most for fueling.

[39:20] Why overtraining and under-fueling are often normalised in sports culture.

[44:00] How eating enough is more important than perfect nutrition for performance.

[50:00] The social impact of sports culture and detaching identity from training.

TW: This episode discusses binge discusses eating disorders, disordered eating in athletes, and body image challenges. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know needs support, contact a trusted professional or helpline.

Connect with Aidan: LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

Need Support? If you relate to some of the symptoms Aidan mentioned and want to know what to do next, we recommend reaching out to your GP or connecting with eating disorder dietitians such as Aidan, Renee McGregor or Elle Kelly for further support.

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