Background/Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to characterize athletes approaching an outpatient interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary consultation structure for athletes with a suspected relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) cross-sectionally and longitudinally to prove treatment efficacy. Methods: Data of 58 athletes suspected of REDs were collected at the onset (t₀) and completion (t₁) of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary REDs treatment (clinical practice) between January 2019 and December 2022. The data included extracted information from medical records, anthropometric characteristics, physical performance diagnostics, laboratory values, dietary records, and partially gynecological and psychosomatic diagnostics. Results: The sample primarily consisted of female athletes (97%) under 18 years of age (66%) who were underweight with a body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m² and BMI percentile below the 10th percentile for their age and gender-specific norms (59%), and experienced menstrual disorders (93%). The dietary behavior is characterized by plant-based and low-energy-dense foods. Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) were diagnosed in 40% of the athletes according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 11th revision criteria. During the program, 64% of the athletes exhibited a mean weight gain of 7 (±6) kg (p < 0.001), excluding those still undergoing treatment (36%). Conclusions: The proposed interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary treatment approach proved effective and holds promise for future evidence-based developments in REDs treatment.

Background: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a phenotype, which is defined by reduced muscle strength, muscle mass, and obesity. Limited mobility leads to increased sedentary behavior and decreased physical activity. Both sarcopenia and obesity are aggravated by these factors. In combination, SO is an additional challenge for the setting nursing home (NH). Previous studies have shown a low prevalence of residents with SO in comparable settings, such as community-dwelling. We hypothesize that the BaSAlt cohort also has a small proportion of residents with SO. Methods: For the analysis, 66 residents (women: 74.2%) aged ≥ 65 years from NH, were screened for SO based on EWGSOP2 specifications and cut-off values to classify obesity. Results: Severe sarcopenia was quantified in eleven residents (16.7%). The majority of sarcopenic residents were women (n = 10) compared to men (n = 1). However, no SO could be identified by assessment of body mass index, fat mass in percentage, and fat mass index. Conclusion: As expected, the setting-specific cohort showed a low number of SO. Furthermore, no case of SO was identified in our study. Sarcopenia was associated with an increased fat-free mass in NH residents. Nevertheless, sarcopenia and obesity play important roles in the preservation of residents’ health.

To improve performance in endurance sports, it is important to include both high-intensity and low-intensity training, but there is neither a universally accepted practice nor clear scientific evidence that allows reliable statements about the predominance of a specific training method. This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of a polarized training model (POL) to a low-intensity training model (LIT) on physiological parameters and mountain bike cross-country Olympic (XCO) race performance in eighteen competitive XCO athletes (17.9 ± 3.6 years). The superiority of one of the two methods could not be shown in this study. The results did not show statistically significant differences between POL and LIT, as both interventions led to slight improvements. However, a small tendency toward better effects for POL was seen for cycling power output during the race (4.4% vs. –2.2%), at the 4 mmol/L (6.1% vs. 2.8%) and individual anaerobic lactate threshold (5.1% vs. 2.3%), and for maximal aerobic performance (4.4% vs. 2.6%), but not for maximal efforts lasting 10 to 300 s. Despite the lack of significant superiority in this and some other studies, many athletes and coaches prefer POL because it produces at least equivalent effects and requires less training time.

Background: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, leading to low energy availability (LEA) and impairments of physiological and/or psychological functions in female and male athletes. While physical determinants of REDs are well documented, psychological factors such as body image (BI) have received comparatively little attention. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize the current scientific evidence on the relationship between BI and REDs. Methods: A scoping review examined the current literature, including quantitative and qualitative studies. The scoping review was conducted in April 2025 in PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL and OpenDissertations. Studies were included if they examined BI aspects in relation to LEA or REDs in a sporting context, regardless of participants’ gender, age, level or sport. Inclusion criteria were based on the Population—Context—Concept (PPC) framework. Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, covering athletes from various ages, genders, sports, and performance levels. Findings indicate that BI dissatisfaction—manifesting, for example, as a drive for thinness or muscularity, exercise dependence, and disordered eating—represents a relevant psychological factor associated with LEA in both female and male athletes. Conclusions: The relationship between BI and REDs is complex and insufficiently explored. Future research should address this link systematically across sports, performance levels, genders, and age groups. In sports medicine practice, screening tools should systematically incorporate psychological risk factors such as BI disturbances to enable early detection, targeted intervention, and prevention of long-term health consequences.

Purpose: Sarcopenia is characterized by the loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical functioning. The bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a simplify method for the measurement of muscle quantity and quality. But there is a lack of evidence in the interpretation of the muscle quality parameter phase angle (PhA), which was recommended by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2). We hypothesize that the PhA shows differences between sarcopenia categorized groups and can be used as an additional parameter for sarcopenia quantification among residents of nursing homes (NH). Methods: Based on EWGSOP2 specifications, 78 residents from five German NH was categorized into sarcopenia groups. Group comparisons with Kruskal–Wallis tests, Dunn–Bonferroni post-hoc-Tests, and correlations with Spearman coefficients were conducted with the muscle quality parameter PhA. Results: Significant group differences by Kruskal–Wallis test for PhA was detected (H = 8.150, p = 0.017). The Dunn–Bonferroni post-hoc-Test showed significant results by group comparison for “confirmed/ severe sarcopenia” (4.1° [3.1–5.0]) with “no sarcopenia” (4.6° [3.7–11.2]; p =0 .049) and “probable sarcopenia” (4.7° [3.4–13.5]; p = 0.016), respectively. Conclusions: There is a limitation for differentiation in preliminary stage of sarcopenia among multimorbid NH residents by PhA. Moreover, further research for specific cut-off-values and the individual sarcopenia progression monitoring by PhA are needed. Trial registration: No. AZ A2.5.4-096_aa (Date of approval: July 2019).

Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle strength and muscle mass. The EWGSOP2 specifications include physical functioning determination for quantification of the sarcopenia severity. However, there is a lack in the use of habitual and maximal gait speed and their influence on sarcopenia quantification. We hypothesize differences in sarcopenia quantification using habitual and maximal gait speed. Sixty-six residents from five nursing homes were examined. Habitual and maximal gait speed were measured by 4-meter-walking-Test. McNemar-Test and χ²-test were used to identify quantification differences. Effect sizes of both gait speeds were calculated with Spearman’s rank-correlation-coefficient. Significant difference was identified for twenty-two residents in physical functioning classification by McNemar-Test (p<.001). χ²-Test identified a significant frequency distribution for sarcopenia categories between both gait speeds (χ² (df2)=11.215, p=.004; Cramer’s V=.412). Significant correlations (p<.05) were only shown for maximal gait speed in variables falls in the last three months (|r_s|=.326), Barthel-Index (|r_s|=.415), and SARC-F (|r_s|=.335). The use of habitual and maximal gait speed has a significant impact on sarcopenia quantification in nursing home residents. An adapted standardization in the EWGSOP2 specifications should follow.