1. Home
  2. Exercise Nutrition [NUT3215]

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Exercise Nutrition

  • Unit Code

    NUT3215

  • Year

    2021

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Claus Thagaard CHRISTOPHERSEN

Description

This unit examines current nutrition theories and research in relation to exercise, fitness and sporting endeavours. The metabolic pathways of the energy-yielding nutrients and their manipulation through dietary intake are explored together with emerging concepts of human bioenergetics. The physiological and pharmacological actions of nutrients and nutrient-like supplements are examined under the rubric of evidence-based outcomes in exercise and sport.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from NUT1121

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse nutritional strategies relevant to specific exercise conditions.
  2. Assess the dietary needs of athletes who have special physiological requirements.
  3. Evaluate current research in exercise and sports nutrition.
  4. Identify the interactions between food energy, storage and exercise capacity.
  5. Synthesise current knowledge about nutritional supplements and ergogenic aids.

Unit Content

  1. Dietary issues related to specific athletic populations and event types. Nutritional implications of age and gender differences in substrate utilisation and storage. Dietary considerations for athletes with diabetes, GIT disorders or other dietary related problems; dietary considerations for vegetarian athletes; food intake for aerobic fitness, acute exercise, endurance and resistance training and events; nutritional strategies for energy balance, weight gain and loss, fat loss and rehydration.
  2. Energy release from the macronutrients. Importance of carbohydrate in energy metabolism; substrate-level phosphorylation; formation of lactic acid; critical periods for carbohydrate manipulation. Fat catabolism in exercise; roles of insulin and catecholamines in lipolysis; carbohydrate-lipid interactions; ingestion of substrates before and during exercise. Oxidation of amino acids; exercise induced amino acid flux; timing of nutrient intake pre-issues in post-exercise refueling.
  3. Ergogenic aspects of protein, carbohydrate and fat. Pharmacologic and chemical ergogenic aids. Sport neutraceuticals and the food-drug continuum. Evaluation of purported ergogenic aids in sports performance. Effects of micronutrient deficiencies on exercise performance. Vitamin Supplements. The role of micronutrients in mental fitness for competition. Muscle creatine and phosphocreatine resynthesis. Prudent guideline for supplement use in exercise and sport.
  4. Nutritional assessment: Kinathropometric techniques relevant to assessment; objective and subjective measures of dietary assessment; integrating information on nutritional status; nutritional standards of reference used in Australia; nutrient data bases; evaluation of nutritional analysis software packages.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECUs LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 1 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit presentation includes lectures and tutorials which involve case studies, web based research and readings, oral presentation, group based food preparation, diet design and recipe modification activities.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentCase study35%
TestMid semester test25%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

Core Reading(s)

  • Rawson, E. S., Branch, J. D., & Stephenson, T. J. (2019). Williams’ Nutrition for Health, Fitness and Sport 12 edition. Williams’ Nutrition for Health, Fitness and Sport (12th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1140939293

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

NUT3215|1|1

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Exercise Nutrition

  • Unit Code

    NUT3215

  • Year

    2021

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Claus Thagaard CHRISTOPHERSEN

Description

Students will learn how to assess the energy needs of active populations and gain awareness of the impact that nutrition has upon performance. A range of factors that influence dietary requirements including environmental conditions, food preferences and the type of training undertaken will be examined.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed NUT1121.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate global exercise and sports nutrition evidence to determine best practice nutritional strategies for active populations.
  2. Analyse the relationship between food energy and the physical demands of specific forms of exercise to determine optimal nutritional requirements.
  3. Create awareness of nutritional supplements and doping’ among active populations .
  4. Work collaboratively to develop safe exercise nutrition recommendations for diverse population groups.

Unit Content

  1. Dietary and physical assessment of active populations.
  2. Overview of energy production from carbohydrates, fat and protein.
  3. Hydration strategies for training and competition.
  4. Modifying body composition.
  5. Efficacy of supplements and ergogenic aids for performance.
  6. Vitamin & mineral deficiencies and its impact on exercise capacity.
  7. Energy availability in relation to disordered eating.
  8. Exercise nutrition for diverse populations.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students evaluate case studies and current research in small groups to build critical thinking and collaboration skills. Exercise nutrition knowledge is applied in tandem with international guidelines to build global perspectives. Students undertake group-based food preparation and recipe modification activities. Students have the opportunity to complete their Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority Level 1 Anti-doping Certificate in this unit.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestMid semester test20%
AssignmentAthlete case study report40%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

Core Reading(s)

  • Rawson, E. S., Branch, J. D., & Stephenson, T. J. (2019). Williams’ Nutrition for Health, Fitness and Sport 12 edition. Williams’ Nutrition for Health, Fitness and Sport (12th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Education. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1140939293

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

NUT3215|2|2