SPORTS AND EXERCISE NUTRITION - 2021/2

Module code: BMS3069

Module Overview

This module focuses on the application of nutrition to sports and exercise.  The module begins with an introduction to exercise physiology both theoretical and practical before exploring the role of energy and nutrients during exercise.  Content is taught using a collection of in house and external speakers and in collaboration with the Surrey Human Performance Institute with Surrey Sports park.  By the end of the module students will be confident in how to apply nutrition principles in a sport and exercise setting.    

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

HULTON Andrew (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 40

Lecture Hours: 2

Seminar Hours: 3

Tutorial Hours: 18

Laboratory Hours: 6

Practical/Performance Hours: 3

Guided Learning: 39

Captured Content: 39

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

BMS2039 Human Nutrition OR BMS2071 Human Nutrition for Sports & Exercise.  

Module content


  • Introduction to the module: Nutritional concerns of exercise

  • Exercise physiology: physiological and biochemical response to exercise & training

  • PRACTICAL 1: Ergogenic aids or nutritional intervention on exercise performance

  • Energy and macronutrient requirements for exercise

  • Carbohydrate and performance

  • Protein, exercise and health

  • Fluid & electrolytes balance in exercise and :hydration

  • Ergogenic aids

  • The female athlete

  • Practical Sports Nutrition

  • Nutrition for strength and power.  

  • PRACTICAL 2: Critical appraisal of home made versus commercial sports drinks and supplements

  • Exercise nutrition for the non-athlete

  • nutrition and energy balance

  • POSTER SESSION: presentation and marking of student posters

  •  Revision


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Oral exam or presentation COURSEWORK - POSTER PRESENTATION 50
Coursework COURSEWORK - SHORT SCIENTIFIC PAPER (BASED ON PRACTICAL) 50

Alternative Assessment

None.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

Their understanding of the nutritional concerns of sport and exercise

How the nutritional demands of sport and exercise can be adequately met and how performance can be maximised.

Their appreciation for the current issues in exercise nutrition and how research is developing the field. 

The requirement for students to produce an academic poster as the coursework assessment provides the student with an opportunity to hone skills in communicating key elements of nutrition for a chosen sport in a visually concise and informative way.  Student posters will be presented at a dedicated poster session, where students are able to view other posters, and learn issues and features of a range of sports.    It also allows an opportunity for questions and input from peers. 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • An A1/A0 size academic poster summarising a chosen sport.  With accompanying summary leaflet (max 2 sides of A4). 

  • Written brief scientific paper based on the practical 



Formative assessment and feedback


  • Individual written feedback on poster from academics within 1 week of the poster session. To include peer marking element

  • Poster peer vote and winning poster announced within days of the session

  • Individual feedback on scientific paper within 3 weeks of submission (excluding University closure days)


Module aims

  • To provide an understanding of the physiological, biochemical and nutritional demands of exercise and sport
  • To gain insight into the innovative ways nutrition can be used to enhance exercise performance and improve recovery
  • To provide experience of field and laboratory methods used in exercise testing, including cardiopulmonary testing (CPET)
  • To be able to critically appraise the suitability of commercially available sports nutrition products
  • To gain insight into the role of the sports nutritionist/sports dietitian alongside individuals and teams

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Understand the biochemical principles underlying metabolic fuel selection during aerobic and anaerobic exercise K
002 Understand the role nutrition has in the physiology and biochemistry of different types of exercise and training K
003 Appreciate the use of exercise testing in assessing health, fitness, nutritional requirements and/or physiological effects of intervention P
004 Understand the nutritional needs of athletes and be able to suggest dietary adjustments that may improve sporting performance KC
005 Have a critical understanding of the composition and use of sports foods, supplements and ergogenic aids, and their efficacy in influencing performance KC

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Complement existing knowledge on nutrition and metabolism by examining the application of nutrition to sport and exercise. 
Give students an awareness of the theory and practice of exercise nutrition through internal and specialist external speakers.
Help students translate theory into practical advice.
Give opportunity for analysis and critical thinking with regard to nutritional concerns for a given sport/exercise. 

The learning and teaching methods include:

30 hours of lectures, 2-4 hours per week
4 hours of practicals
4 hours of interactive tutorials / seminars
4 hour interactive poster session

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS3069

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Food Science and Nutrition BSc (Hons) 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Nutrition and Dietetics BSc (Hons) 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.