Race, illness, injury, repeat - REDs and why men are suffering in silence
British runner Jake Smith shares his experience with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), a condition often overlooked in male athletes. The article explores the physical and mental health risks of the syndrome and the stigma that prevents men from seeking help.
Why it matters
Raising awareness about REDs in men is critical for preventing long-term health complications like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in athletes.
Race, illness, injury, repeat - REDs and why men are suffering in silence
Image source, DSM By Sarah Dawkins BBC Sport senior journalist Warning: this article contains discussion of eating disorders
"If you keep this up, you'll be in a wheelchair at 30."
That is what doctors told British long-distance runner Jake Smith four years ago.
From the outside looking in, his career was flying.
By the age of 23, he had signed a professional contract with Nike and represented Great Britain on the global stage.
But at the same time, his body was deteriorating - enduring a relentless pattern of race, illness, injury, repeat.
Balancing an intense training regime with disordered eating meant the 28-year-old returned from a running camp in Uganda weighing just eight stone (51kg) at 5ft 5in (1.7m). He had such brittle bones that he was told his career could be over.
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