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, and support networks by making complex concepts related to energy balance, nutrition, and mental well-being more accessible and actionable. The tool supports users in not only acquiring knowledge (functional health literacy), but also interpreting and applying this knowledge in their daily training and lifestyle decisions (interactive health literacy).

Furthermore, by encouraging reflection, self-monitoring, and critical awareness of health information and body-related pressures, the platform fosters critical health literacy, enabling users to make informed and sustainable decisions about their health and performance. In this way, “Sunn Utøver” moves beyond information provision toward empowering users as active agents in managing their own health.

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: https://design4gh.com/reds/no (available in Norwegian and English)

• Torp, Synnøve; Parmar, Ashis Jalote; Sandbakk, Øyvind B. (2024). Sunn Utøver: Innovative E-Learning Platform for Prevention of REDs among Athletes. NTNU, Master’s Thesis.