Occupations involving the application of science to sport Rose McGovern Sport and Exercise Nutrition University of Ulster

Outline What is nutrition? What is nutrition? What do nutritionists do? What do nutritionists do? How to become a nutritionist How to become a nutritionist

Nutrition Broad term Broad term It is a science that examines the relationship between diet and health It is a science that examines the relationship between diet and healthsciencediethealthsciencediethealth Attempts to understand how and why specific dietary aspects influence health Attempts to understand how and why specific dietary aspects influence health Many different areas of nutrition & nutrition research Many different areas of nutrition & nutrition research

Areas of nutrition Food Chain, Animals and Plants Food Chain, Animals and Plants Cellular and Molecular Nutrition Cellular and Molecular Nutrition Nutritional 'omics Nutritional 'omics Nutritional Epidemiology & Public Health Nutritional Epidemiology & Public Health Clinical Nutrition and Whole Body Metabolism Clinical Nutrition and Whole Body Metabolism International Nutrition International Nutrition Reproduction and Child Health Reproduction and Child Health Sports and Exercise Nutrition Sports and Exercise Nutrition

What do nutritionists do ? Role varies depending what area you are working in Role varies depending what area you are working in Essentially it is the application of science to different situations/problems Essentially it is the application of science to different situations/problems Need a good background in science Need a good background in science

Nutritionists in industry Food and drink manufacturers, retailers, medical food companies, food service providers Food and drink manufacturers, retailers, medical food companies, food service providers New product development New product development Claim support Claim support Communication with consumers & marketing department Communication with consumers & marketing department Profit driven Profit driven

Public health nutritionists Work in health improvement, with groups or communities to promote health, wellbeing and reduce inequalities Work in health improvement, with groups or communities to promote health, wellbeing and reduce inequalities Obesity/heart clinics, young mothers/elderly Obesity/heart clinics, young mothers/elderly Conduct surveys to assess the publics knowledge about nutrition Conduct surveys to assess the publics knowledge about nutrition Developing nutrition policies Developing nutrition policies

Public health nutritionists

Sports nutritionist Promote nutrition exercise and fitness, as personal trainers or by working in the Sports, Fitness and Health and Recreation Industries Promote nutrition exercise and fitness, as personal trainers or by working in the Sports, Fitness and Health and Recreation Industries Working with athletes Working with athletes Examining dietary intake, performance and how to improve performance Examining dietary intake, performance and how to improve performance

Consensus statement International Consensus Conference, Lausanne, 1991 International Consensus Conference, Lausanne, 1991 ‘ Diet significantly influences athletic performance. An adequate diet in terms of quantity and quality, before, during and after training and performance will maximise performance’ ‘ Diet significantly influences athletic performance. An adequate diet in terms of quantity and quality, before, during and after training and performance will maximise performance’

Aims of sports nutrition Improves performance Improves performance Decreases recovery time from strenuous events Decreases recovery time from strenuous events Prevents exercise injuries due to fatigue Prevents exercise injuries due to fatigue Provides the fuel required during high intensity training for competing and Provides the fuel required during high intensity training for competing and Controls weight Controls weight

Sports Nutritionist

Fluids and exercise performance Pre-exercise hydration Pre-exercise hydration Fluid replacement during exercise Fluid replacement during exercise Effects of fluid ingestion on performance Effects of fluid ingestion on performance Post-exercise rehydration Post-exercise rehydration Environmental conditions Environmental conditions

Becoming a nutritionist Science at A level Science at A level Biology, Chemistry + home economics and maths Biology, Chemistry + home economics and maths BSc degree in nutrition that is professionally accredited BSc degree in nutrition that is professionally accredited Register as Associate Nutritionist Register as Associate Nutritionist Specialise after registration (PhD/ 3 years experience) Specialise after registration (PhD/ 3 years experience) Registered Nutritionist & CPD Registered Nutritionist & CPD

Registered nutritionist (RNutr) Must demonstrate that they: Can recognise the highest standards of scientific evidence in nutrition Can recognise the highest standards of scientific evidence in nutrition Apply the highest standards of scientific evidence safely and effectively in their practice of nutrition Apply the highest standards of scientific evidence safely and effectively in their practice of nutrition Continuously improve their knowledge, skills and practice of science based practice. Continuously improve their knowledge, skills and practice of science based practice.

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