5 books for learning more about REDs
REDs is a big subject, covering many topics from performance, eating disorders, and recovery, to sleep, hormones, female health, libido and so much more.
The books in this list are written by leading sports endocrinologists, registered dietitians, physiological experts and dancers with lived experience. They are excellent resources which help demystify the science of energy availability and offer essential, practical guidance to help dancers thrive both on and off the stage.
Finding Your Sweet Spot: How to Avoid RED-S by Rebecca McConville
Written specifically on REDs, Rebecca translates complex clinical endocrinology into accessible, actionable guidance on energy balance and performance. While she refers to multi-sport athletes rather than dancers specifically, her deep dive into the physiological, psychological, and systemic impacts of underfueling makes the book essential reading for dancers, dance educators, and parents who are navigating the unique demands of the studio.
ROAR by Dr. Stacy Sims
Dr Stacy Sims is a well known name in REDs and in female exercise physiology, she revolutionised sports science with her mantra 'women are not small men'. In ROAR, she showcases how working with your natural physiology helps performance. She offers practical advice for matching nutrition and training to female hormonal cycles, framing proper fueling not as a restriction, but as a non-negotiable foundation for strength, power, and long-term health. This is a great resource for female dancers, parents and teachers.
Hormones, Health and Human Potential by Dr. Nicky Keay
Written by Dr Nicky Keay who is a sports endocrinologist and who works directly with dancers, this book offers excellent explanations of how energy balance governs hormone function, bone density, and adaptive health. Hormones are often overlooked or seen as too complicated, and Nicky clearly explains and demystifies a lot of the science arounds hormones, their role in both the male and female bodies and how we can protect and look after them.
Dancing on My Grave by Gelsey Kirkland
Published in 1986, this book is one of the most explosive autobiographies to shine a light on the dark side of professional ballet. Renowned dancer Gelsey Kirkland recounts her meteoric rise through the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and shares the intense pressure, aesthetic standards, and unvetted coaching she was faced with, which led to severe eating disorders, chronic injury, and addiction. It remains a landmark memoir and a raw, eye-opening account of her experience.
Belonging by Owen Eastwood
Renowned sports psychologist Owen Eastwood draws on his Māori heritage and work with elite global teams to unpack how shared identity and human connection drive sustained high performance. While not written specifically for dancers, the book offers lots of good guidance for dancers, parents, and organisations looking to dismantle toxic, high-pressure environments in dance. Eastwood talks about placing psychological safety, cultural identity, and long-term well-being at the centre of performance and emphasises the importance of having a strong sense of self that extends outside of the dance world.
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