Does better education around period health, proper fueling, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport actually lead to healthier behaviors in female athletes? In this episode, Opal's Director of Exercise + Sport, Kara Bazzi, LMFT, sits down with seasoned provider Heather Caplan, RDN to share what they're seeing firsthand in their clinical work. Together, they unpack the systemic pressures that push teen and young adult athletes to prioritize performance over long-term health.
Heather also shares how she supports young athletes in restoring their period health—and speaks candidly about what still needs to change in our culture to truly protect and empower them in today's increasingly intense, professionalized youth sports environment. Coaches, parents, athletes—this conversation is for you.
Links:
Lane 9 project Lane 9 Project - Clinician Directory
Heather's website Heather Caplan | Weight-Inclusive Dietitian
Stanford FASTR Stanford FASTR Program
Link to article I read: Built for Someone Else: Why Female Athletes Are Still Pushing Through Systems That Don't Support Them - JRN | The World's Leading Rowing Platform
Connect with Opal:
Thank you to our team...
Editing by David Bazzi
Music by Aaron Davidson: https://soundcloud.com/diet75/
Sound engineering by Ayesha Ubayatilaka at Jack Straw Studios
