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Updated in [March 20th, 2023]

Are you involved in sports or regular exercise and do you want to have a better understanding of the role of nutrition on performance and health? Do you want to learn whether certain nutritional strategies could be relevant for your own athletic performance and/or muscle growth? Are you a dietitian, personal trainer, physiotherapist or a health/sport coach and do you want to be able to provide proper nutritional advice for your clients? Or, are you none of the above but interested in nutrition, exercise and sports and do you want to make your own informed decisions about your daily food intake?

Then this online course Nutrition, Exercise and Sports is for you! Nutrition is crucial to live an active and healthy life, to support training, and to optimize performance. In this online course, researchers and teachers from Wageningen University & Research will familiarize you with the nutritional aspects of exercise and sports. What are the basic concepts in exercise physiology and sport nutrition science? How is exercise being fueled for the different types of sports like; power sports, sprinting and endurance exercise? And how does protein support skeletal muscle mass and performance? In this online course you will learn to estimate energy needs and understand thermoregulation and fluid balance. You will learn about the role of micronutrients and supplements in exercise performance. Moreover, you will be introduced to some health issues related to doing exercise.

This online course also touches upon how the lessons learned from nutrition and sports research can be applied during ageing. For example, what are the benefits of extra protein in vulnerable age groups?

Be aware that this course will not tell you exactly what to eat. Instead, you will learn and understand the nutritional aspects of exercise and sport, so you can make your own informed decisions and critically evaluate nutritional advices and claims.

For whom?

The online course Nutrition, Exercise and Sports is especially useful for:


Sport- and health coaches, Physiotherapists and Dietitians

People working in the (sport) food industry

Athletes and professional sporters

Everyone with a healthy appetite for knowledge about nutrition, exercise and sports


Ready to join the MOOC Nutrition, Exercise and Sports? This online course contains several interesting and inspiring interviews with nutrition and sport professionals. It will provide basic understanding of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, and contains challenging assignments that will give you insight in nutritional needs and performance benefits for (your) athletes, your clients or yourself.

(Please note that we obtained the following content based on information that users may want to know, such as skills, applicable scenarios, future development, etc., combined with AI tools, and have been manually reviewed)
Course Overview: This online course Nutrition, Exercise and Sports provides an in-depth look into the role of nutrition in exercise and sports. It covers topics such as basic concepts in exercise physiology and sport nutrition science, energy needs, thermoregulation and fluid balance, the role of micronutrients and supplements in exercise performance, and health issues related to doing exercise. It also touches upon how the lessons learned from nutrition and sports research can be applied during ageing.

Possible Development Directions: This course is especially useful for sport- and health coaches, physiotherapists, dietitians, people working in the (sport) food industry, athletes and professional sporters, and everyone with a healthy appetite for knowledge about nutrition, exercise and sports. It provides basic understanding of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, and contains challenging assignments that will give you insight in nutritional needs and performance benefits for (your) athletes, your clients or yourself.

Related Learning Suggestions: After completing this course, learners can further their knowledge by exploring the latest research in nutrition and sports science. They can also look into the latest trends in nutrition and exercise, and learn more about the different types of sports and their nutritional needs. Additionally, they can look into the health benefits of exercise and nutrition, and learn how to apply the lessons learned from nutrition and sports research to their own lives.

[Applications]
Those who have completed the online course Nutrition, Exercise and Sports will be able to apply the knowledge they have gained to their own athletic performance and/or muscle growth. They will also be able to provide proper nutritional advice for their clients, and make informed decisions about their daily food intake. Additionally, they will be able to understand the nutritional aspects of exercise and sport, and critically evaluate nutritional advices and claims.

[Career Paths]
1. Nutritionist: Nutritionists are responsible for helping people make healthy dietary choices. They provide advice on nutrition, diet, and lifestyle changes to help people reach their health goals. They also work with athletes to develop individualized nutrition plans to optimize performance. Nutritionists are in high demand and the job outlook is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

2. Exercise Physiologist: Exercise physiologists are responsible for helping people improve their physical fitness and health. They design and implement exercise programs to help people reach their fitness goals. They also work with athletes to develop individualized exercise plans to optimize performance. Exercise physiologists are in high demand and the job outlook is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

3. Sports Dietitian: Sports dietitians are responsible for helping athletes and active individuals make healthy dietary choices. They provide advice on nutrition, diet, and lifestyle changes to help people reach their health and performance goals. They also work with athletes to develop individualized nutrition plans to optimize performance. Sports dietitians are in high demand and the job outlook is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

4. Personal Trainer: Personal trainers are responsible for helping people improve their physical fitness and health. They design and implement exercise programs to help people reach their fitness goals. They also work with athletes to develop individualized exercise plans to optimize performance. Personal trainers are in high demand and the job outlook is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

[Education Paths]
Recommended Degree Paths:

1. Bachelor of Science in Nutrition: This degree program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the science of nutrition, including the role of nutrition in health and disease prevention. Students learn about the fundamentals of nutrition, including the role of macronutrients, micronutrients, and vitamins in the body. They also learn about the role of nutrition in exercise and sports performance, as well as the importance of proper nutrition for athletes. This degree program is becoming increasingly popular as more people become aware of the importance of nutrition for health and performance.

2. Master of Science in Exercise Science: This degree program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the science of exercise, including the role of exercise in health and performance. Students learn about the fundamentals of exercise physiology, including the role of exercise in muscle growth and strength, as well as the importance of proper exercise for athletes. This degree program is becoming increasingly popular as more people become aware of the importance of exercise for health and performance.

3. Doctor of Philosophy in Sports Nutrition: This degree program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the science of sports nutrition, including the role of nutrition in health and performance. Students learn about the fundamentals of sports nutrition, including the role of macronutrients, micronutrients, and vitamins in the body. They also learn about the role of nutrition in exercise and sports performance, as well as the importance of proper nutrition for athletes. This degree program is becoming increasingly popular as more people become aware of the importance of nutrition for health and performance.

4. Master of Science in Sports Medicine: This degree program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the science of sports medicine, including the role of exercise and nutrition in health and performance. Students learn about the fundamentals of sports medicine, including the role of exercise in muscle growth and strength, as well as the importance of proper nutrition for athletes. This degree program is becoming increasingly popular as more people become aware of the importance of exercise and nutrition for health and performance.