Course Catalogue

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This option covers the recent research evidence on the role of nutrition in sport and exercise using format of lectures, seminars, and journal clubs. In seminars and journal clubs, students will critically review and discuss research papers on sports and exercise nutrition and the evidence for the use of sports supplements promoted on websites, magazines, and marketing materials. They will have practical sessions on evaluation of nutritional strategies for energy substrate selection and exercise performance.

This option is assigned to S2-B. There are normally 3 hours of teaching on Tuesdays, which may be split over more than one session. 

Normally, only available to final-year Life Sciences students in a Physiology Sports Science & Nutrition programme or a Human Biology & Nutrition programme . Visiting students may be allowed to enrol, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator. 

None.

The course will be assessed by a 2-hour examination (70%) and in-course written assignment (30%). In the examination, students will be asked questions which may involve elaboration of an argument or evaluation of data or evidence. The in-course written assignment will consist of a lab report in the format of a scientific paper.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to make evidence-based recommendations for the use of nutrition in exercise and performance for the general population and high-level sport.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

■ Discuss the main nutritional problems in athletes of different sports and individuals who exercise regularly for health, weight control and fitness;

■ Discuss how athletic performance and recovery from training and competition are enhanced by optimal nutrition;

■ Discuss how selection and timing of food, fluid and supplements, influence exercise metabolism, exercise performance and health; 

■ Discuss mechanisms by which nutritional strategies attenuate development of peripheral and central fatigue;

■ Translate data present in scientific papers into recommendations, which are relevant for the optimisation of physical performance and health in athletes of different sports. 

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.