The ADSA-Sports Nutrition Working Group was formed in March 2009 with approval from ADSA and the official launch was held at the SASMA Conference 2009. The aim is to establish a National body for Dietitians who work in the field of Sports Nutrition - dedicated to promoting best practice in Sports Nutrition within South Africa as a sub-group of ADSA and SASMA. We have a dynamic Committee of dedicated Dieticians who will initialize the goals of this Group and lay the foundation for progress in uniting bodies and disseminating scientific information to Professionals and the Public in the field of Sports Nutrition.
The overall objectives of this group will be to:
- Develop Standards of Practice in line with the best International Standards of Professional Practice & Performance (SOPP) for RD’s wishing to practice as Accredited “Dieticians Working in Sport”.
- Provide quality, on-going, accessible education to promote safe and effective sports nutrition practice.
- Promote the WHO’s Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health
- Increase awareness and understanding of the influences of diet and physical activity on health and the positive impact of preventive interventions.
- Provide scientific evidence-based nutritional approaches towards optimizing sports performance and health
- Drive and participate in research to optimize sports nutrition practice and outcomes - Liaise with academic institutions offering sports nutrition courses/programs
- Network with sports medicine, sports science & nutrition, sporting organizations on national and international level
- Build sponsorships and partnerships with the food and fitness industries.
We feel that this organization can play a huge role in Sports Nutrition, not only in South Africa, but also internationally.
The Committee of the first Sports Nutrition Working Group are now hard at work to build the infrastructure (website, membership joining and benefit structure, accreditation process etc.) for this body. We will communicate our progress to ADSA members via the ADSA newsletter. We are looking forward to reaching the phase where we can have members joining the body and further build, support and share in the initiatives of this group.
On behalf of the Sports Nutrition Working Group committee:
Dr Amanda Claassen (Chair ADSA-SNWG; SASMA Representative), Kathy Krog, Dr. Lize Havemann-Nel, Nicki de Villiers.