The Importance of SENR

In the age of social media it can be extremely confusing to know who to trust and believe when it comes to sport and nutrition advice. Just one scroll through Tik Tok and thousands of products, supplements and diets are being promoted by everyone from dieticians to influencers and "nutritionists".

Unfortunately- unlike doctors, dentists and dieticians- Nutritionists are not a protected profession. This means that ANYONE can call themselves a nutritionist and the knowledge and quality of nutritional advice is not regulated in the same way it is for other health professions.

This is were SENR comes in. The Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register provides a way to regulate nutritionists and ensure they have an appropriate level of knowledge and experience to provide sport nutrition support. Typically this requires an MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition alongside experience working with individuals in nutrition support roles. Once a member of SENR, nutritionists must abide by the code of conduct which includes knowing professional scope of practice, data protection, record keeping and continuous professional development (CPD).

SENR provides clients and sports clubs with the peace of mind that the nutritionist in question is qualified to provide the highest quality, safe and evidence-based support. Professional sports teams across the UK and beyond now require employed nutritionists to be SENR accredited.

Other nutrition accreditations exist outside of sports nutrition including the AfN (association for Nutrition) this demonstrates a nutritional knowledge suitable for the general population and those with health goals. However to work in sport specialist knowledge is required.

So when you are listening to Nutrition advice on social media or thinking about working with a nutritionist bare in mind their qualifications and accreditation.

To find all accredited Sports Nutritionists search for the SENR directory which will enable you to search for all current SENR members and help inform your choice when it comes to nutrition advice and support.