How To Become A Sports Nutritionist
Sports nutrition is a broad area of nutrition for anyone who would like to become healthier. Sports nutrition covers many areas, including dietary guidance, lifetime nutrition, diet, disease and illness, weight, dietary supplements, and food labeling. If an individual, athlete, or group of athletes would like to improve his overall health in order to increase performance within his sports and fitness endeavors, seeking the advice from a sports nutritionist can provide many benefits. The sports nutritionist is a professional dietitian who provides sound nutritional advice to athletes, specific athletic organizations, or individuals who have the desire to begin a new journey in getting fit and healthy.
Why Become A Sports Nutritionist
You may be interested in the overall nutrition and health of others. If so, this career can be very rewarding for you. The sports nutritionist develops specific nutrition and dietary plans for clients. Since each individual’s needs are unique, the sports nutritionist is very knowledgeable in all aspects of diet and nutrition. This professional is a dietician that assists the health needs of athletes of any level of fitness.
This expert develops dietary programs specifically for certain clients, depending on their goals and needs. He monitors the nutrition and performance by accurate observation and record keeping for each client, and will adjust each diet accordingly. This nutritionist may also work alongside trainers and coaches of a specific organization to educate them and keep them up-to-date on the progress of each athlete.
Peak performance is a goal for every athlete, and the sports nutritionist will apply his knowledge of this subject by balancing certain foods and food groups, educating athletes on fluid intake, supplements, and vitamins and the benefits of these during all stages of the athletes’ fitness goals and performances. This expert also puts together specific meals and meal plans for his clients.
Sports Nutritionist Work Environment
A sports nutritionist can work in a fitness center or facility for professional athletes, and can work with teams during preseason, throughout the season of the sport, and in the off season to keep the clients’ bodies in optimal health. Usually, this professional dietician works for athletic teams and is employed by the university or sports organization. If not working for an organized sport, a sports nutritionist may work in a fitness center, wellness facility, rehabilitation center, or doctor’s office.
Sports Nutritionist Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Sports Nutritionists, specifically dieticians, have a salary that averages $55,240 annually. Of course, the salary can vary, depending on the facility in which the nutritionist works. Sports nutritionist that works for a professional athletic team may make considerably more per year, and high-profile nutritionists may make more as well. The top ten percent of these dietary experts earned on average $78,000.
Sports Nutritionist Career Outlook
The career outlook for this occupation is predicted to rise approximately 20% in the next decade. More and more people are recognizing the importance of good eating habits and how diet affects sports performance; therefore, sports nutrition is on the rise.
Sports Nutritionist Degree
Many colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences, and with this degree a person can work as a sports nutritionist or other field of diet and nutrition. Other individuals opt for a bachelor’s degree in sports training, physiology, or other medical field where they can add a concentration of sports nutrition to their degree. This can also help when looking for jobs, as it will increase one’s possibility of finding employment. Also, nutritionists and dieticians may be required to become licensed in the state in which they are employed.
If you have a passion for athletics and assisting athletes in reaching their peak performance through diet and nutrition, pursuing a degree in sports nutrition can lead to a rewarding and productive career!
