Nutrition for Health and Exercise

Description

Overview: Knowledge of nutrition as it relates to health and to exercise performance, along with practical experience of measurement techniques in the field of nutrition, is fundamental to the work of an applied sports scientist. The aim of the first part of this module is to describe the components of a healthy diet and to outline the potential consequences, in terms of ill health, of not following the recommendations. The importance of energy balance in weight control will be covered, along with assessment of energy intake and expenditure. Techniques for the assessment of body composition will be included. The second part of the module will focus on concepts of energy provision and fuel utilisation during exercise, nutritional strategies for exercise and the use of ergogenic aids. Syllabus: Outline (i) Components of a healthy diet including macronutrients; micronutrients; water intake; food supplements; special diets. (ii) Energy balance including methods of assessment of energy intake and energy expenditure. (iii) Strategies for weight control: caloric restriction and exercise. (iv) Body composition and assessment techniques. (v) Nutrition related to disease. (vi) Energy provision pathways and fuel utilisation during exercise. (vii) Carbohydrate intake in relation to exercise. (viii) Protein intake for muscle hypertrophy and for recovery. (ix) Fluid and electrolyte intake in relation to exercise. (x) Immune function, antioxidant supplementation and ergogenic aids. Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this module, students will be expected to be able to: (i) describe the concepts of nutrient requirements and DRVs (Dietary Reference Values); describe the main dietary recommendations for health; discuss the extent to which the general public and those in sport comply with dietary recommendations. (ii) discuss the concept of sport as a nutritional extreme, including extreme dietary habits and beliefs, and extreme nutritional demands. (iii) describe the main actual, probable, and possible nutritional problems in sport, their origins and effects; discuss how nutritional problems in the general public and in sport are assessed. (iv) describe energy provision and fuel utilisation during exercise, and nutritional strategies for maximising exercise performance using carbohydrate and fluid. Assessment: Summative assessment: • Assessment 1 (60%) will be the submission of a laboratory report/case study. • Assessment 2 (40%) will consist of a final examination. Formative assessment: • One compulsory self-assessment exercise will be completed mid-module to aid revision of preceding topics The overall mark for the module will be a mean of both summative assessments. Satisfactory attendance (80 % of lectures and 100 % of laboratory and presentation sessions) will be a pre-requisite for satisfactory completion of the module.