Sports Nutritionist advises athletes on nutritional regimes that will allow for optimal performance. He explains what effect different type of food has on the human body. Sports nutritionist must develop eating regimes for athletes that properly balance the athlete’s intake of substances such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Nutrition is of vital importance for athletes in strength sports and in endurance sports like running and swimming. As without a balanced nutrition body will not be capable of performing several activities.
Sports Nutritionists help their clients to develop nutrition plans that fit athletic lifestyles. Being a sports nutritionist can be complicated work that requires a thorough knowledge of not only nutrition but also sports performance. Sports nutritionists must be able to not only consult with athletes regarding their ideal diet, but they must also be able to work the athlete’s desired peak of physical conditioning into the devised dietary regime. Athletes typically need to peak or reach their highest level of performance, at a given point of time during their season. This peak of performance will to some extent be determined by dietary factors, and the best sports nutritionist will know how to achieve this peak through dietary measures.
Sports Nutritionist Eligibility
Educational Qualification
To become a Sports nutritionist one requires a bachelor degree like B.Sc (Food Science and Nutrition) in nutrition or in dietetics.
Age Limits
There is no restriction with regard to the age of the candidate if he or she wants to be a Sports Nutritionist.
Sports Nutritionist Required Skills
To become a successful Sports Nutritionist the aspiring candidate require following skills:
- Sports Nutritionist should have comprehensive knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy, including interviewing and education techniques.
- Candidate should have knowledge of eating disorder/disordered eating signs and symptoms.
- One should have the ability to accurately assess and evaluate energy balance.
- He should have the ability to accurately measure height, and body weight.
- They should have the ability to accurately assess body composition (body mass, body fat, and muscle mass).
- He should work with self-motivation and ability to work independently.
- The candidates should have excellent time management, organizational, and record-keeping skills.
- Sports nutritionist should have competence in nutrient analysis, word processing, and presentation software.
How to Become a Sports Nutritionist?
Aspiring candidates need to follow the given steps to become a Sports Nutritionist.
Step 1
After passing 12th class preferably in Medical Stream, the candidate needs to attain a Bachelor degree in nutrition or in Dietetics. The candidates may have to take some entrance to get admission into reputed institutes providing Bachelor's Degree in Food and Nutrition.
Step 2
After obtaining Bachelor degree, the aspiring candidate can look for some job or on the job training with some sports organization or go for Master’s degree in the related field by clearing Entrance Exam like National Institute of Nutrition M.Sc. Entrance Exam.
Note: Although a master's degree is not mandatory but can help one advance in this competitive career.
List of Some Exams for Nutritionist Courses
- National Institute of Nutrition M.Sc. Entrance Exam.
- A.I.I.H.P.H. Examination or All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health Entrance Exam.
- I.G.N.O.U. Master of Science in Dietetics and Food Service Management Nutritional Biochemistry Examination
- Osmania University Entrance Examination.
- M.Sc. in Dietetics Entrance Examination of Annamalai University
- Master of Science in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition Entrance Examination of Manipal University
- Master of Science in Dietetics Entrance Examination of University of Kerala
- M.Sc. in Dietetics and Food Service Management Entrance Examination of Mangalore University
- S.N.D.T. Women’s University Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics Entrance Examination
- University of Mumbai Master of Science in Dietetics Entrance Examination.
List of some of the reputed Sports Nutrition Training Institutes in India
- All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health
- Lady Irwin College, New Delhi
- Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon
- Achariya Arts and Science College, Pondicherry
- Acharya Nagarjuna University
- Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
- Annai Veilankanni’s Group of an Educational institution, Chennai
- Manav Rachna International University, Faridabad
- Institute of Life Sciences, Ahmedabad University
- Public Health Foundation of New Delhi, Delhi NCR
- Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science for Women
Sports Nutritionist Job Description
A Sports nutritionist is responsible for delivering comprehensive counselling while evaluating the health condition of the client. He often aims at community nutrition services that may include health program preparation, evaluating quality and quantity of purchased food. Nutritional counselling, however, is the main work area for professionals in this field. They interpret nutrition assessment data based on cultural, age, and psychological, physiological factors to assist individuals or families, community or a group in promoting high-quality eating habits. Sports Nutritionists must be licensed to offer their professional recommendations. To become a sports nutritionist one needs to be certified by a renowned institution like the Academy of nutrition and dietetics.
Sports Nutritionist Career Prospects
Once appointed as Sports nutritionist, an aspiring candidate can work as a Sports scientist, Sports dietitian, Assistant professor of Dietetics and Nutrition performance, Dietician Athletics: Director of Sports Nutrition. A sports nutritionist can work in all sectors such as government, private and public. There is a wide range of job opportunities in this sector.
Sports Nutritionist Salary
The pay scale of Sports nutritionist ranges between Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000 per month. An efficient and experienced Sports nutritionist can earn lakhs of rupees in a month in India.
