In the modern sports world, there is a pressing need to educate and prevent health issues such as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), which can lead to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
To address this, a web-based digital learning tool, “Sunn Utøver” (“The Healthy Athlete”), was designed and developed with insights from sports experts, coaches, and athletes. This digital platform provides educational modules, community support, and tracking features to enhance awareness of training, nutrition, and mental health.

The project is funded by NTNU’s Innovation Discovery Project and is jointly led by Ashis Jalote Parmar, Associate Professor at the Department of Design, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and Synnøve Antonsen Torp (Master’s, 2024, Department of Design, NTNU).
The project also involves expert collaboration with stakeholders from the Norwegian sports sector, including Prof. Øyvind B. Sandbakk, PhD, the Norwegian Sports Academy, as well as contributions from faculty at the University of Agder and Østfold University College.

Health Literacy Contribution

 “Sunn Utøver” also contributes to strengthening health literacy among athletes, coaches, parents, and support networks by making complex concepts related to energy balance, nutrition, recovery, and mental well-being more accessible and understandable. The platform supports users in acquiring essential knowledge (functional health literacy) and provides engaging educational resources that help them understand how these concepts relate to healthy participation in sport (interactive health literacy).

Furthermore, by presenting evidence-based information and addressing common misconceptions and body-related pressures in sport, the platform promotes critical health literacy. Users are encouraged to evaluate health information critically and develop a deeper understanding of factors that influence health and performance. In this way, “Sunn Utøver” goes beyond simply providing information by fostering informed decision-making and supporting a healthier sporting environment for athletes and their support networks.

Project number: 998012234

Funder: NTNU Discovery – Innovation grant

Product 1: Sunn Utøver – Innovative E-Learning Tool for REDs Prevention and Athlete Health Management

“Sunn Utøver” aims to educate athletes and coaches about REDs, a condition caused by insufficient energy intake relative to energy expenditure, leading to serious health consequences. Unlike traditional approaches that primarily focus on symptom management among elite female athletes, this tool offers accessible education for all competitive levels and genders, emphasizing early detection and prevention.

Using a human-centered and collaborative design approach, the tool was iteratively developed through interviews, user testing, and co-creation with young athletes and experts. A survey was also conducted with NTG (Norges Toppidrettsgymnas) to identify knowledge gaps related to REDs, with participation from 172 sports students, 21 coaches, and 28 parents.

The digital tool incorporates behavioral change techniques to promote ongoing learning and proactive health management. Evaluated using the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) and the System Usability Scale (SUS), “Sunn Utøver” scored 83, demonstrating its effectiveness in fostering healthy behaviors and awareness in the sports community. This proactive approach represents a significant advancement in supporting athletes’ health and long-term performance sustainability.

• Try Sunn Utøver Innovative E-Learning Tool REDs here (available in Norwegian and English).

• Provide user feedback on SunnUtover in Norwegian here (it will take 10 minutes of your time). 

• Torp, Synnøve; Sandbakk, Øyvind B.; Parmar, Ashis Jalote. (2024) Sunn Utøver: Innovative E-Learning Platform for Prevention of REDs among Athletes. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet.
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