Powering Performance: Navigating REDs and Eating Disorders with Your Athletes
REDs is a syndrome of impaired physiological and/or psychological functioning that is experienced by 23-80% of female athletes and 15-70% of male athletes due to exposure to prolonged and/or severe low energy availability. As a sports performance coach, you are placed in an advantageous position to witness changes in your athletes that are hindering performance and health as part of REDs. You can be an integral part of getting these athletes the care they need and acting as a member of the REDs multi-disciplinary team. This presentation will review the characteristics of REDs, the importance of institution policies for treating these cases, and how sports performance coaches can and should be a part of these conversations.
Christina Weidman is a distinguished sports dietitian having worked in collegiate athletics for over 10 years. She has been a member of the Northwestern University Performance Nutrition team since 2014 and has worked in a variety of roles serving over 500 student athletes. She is currently an Advanced Clinical Dietitian in Athletics specializing in REDs, eating disorders, and female athletes. She plays an active role in driving policy development for the Eating Concerns and Treatment Team and educating fellow staff members on updates in the world of REDs.
Christina earned her bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She completed her dietetic internship through the Loyola University Graduate School of Nursing and obtained her Master’s in Exercise Science from Concordia University. Her professional affiliations include active involvement in the American Sports and Performance Dietitian Association (ASPDA), the Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (SHPN), Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND), and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Notably, she has served as the President of CAND, leading an organization of over 200 Registered Dietitians and nutrition students in Chicago.
Beyond her role at Northwestern, Christina is the founder of CW Sports Nutrition, where she provides evidence-based nutrition services tailored to athletes’ health and performance goals. Her passion lies in helping athletes optimize their performance through proper fueling, recovery, and overall nutrition strategies. Christina’s dedication to sports nutrition is further exemplified by her hands-on approach with athletes.
With a commitment to advancing the field of performance nutrition and a personalized approach to athlete care, Christina Weidman stands as a leading figure in sports nutrition, empowering athletes to achieve their highest potential through obtainable nutrition.
