Fitness Australia introduces Nutrition Advice guidelines for AusREPs

Fitness Australia has made a major step in providing clarity to the fitness industry by introducing guidelines for AusREPs to follow when giving nutrition advice to clients through the release of Nutrition Advice within Scope of Practice for AusREPs.

For Fitness Australia Chief Executive Bill Moore, the introduction of the guidelines, developed and endorsed by the, Dietitians Association of Australia along with Sports Dietitians Australia, is an important step for the fitness industry in providing quality services to clients Australia-wide.

Moore explains that the guidelines have been “designed to help AusREPs find the balance between providing the appropriate level of nutritional advice to the client, without providing information beyond their professional Scope of Practice.

“There’s currently an expectation among some consumers for fitness services to provide nutrition advice, particularly when it comes to weight management and dietary supplementation.”

As part of the guidelines, AusREPs are encouraged to provide basic healthy eating information and advice through the application of nationally endorsed nutritional standards and guidelines - in particular, the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

Moore adds “within the current scope of practice there’s ample opportunity for AusREPs to educate clients about nutrition and provide general healthy eating advice.

“The document gives AusREPs clear guidelines as to what services they can - and can’t - provide in the nutrition space, and when it’s most appropriate to refer clients on to an Accredited Practising Dietitian or an Accredited Sports Dietitian.”

The Guidelines have been welcomed by both the DAA and SDA, who have acknowledged the need for collaboration between the Fitness Industry and Nutrition bodies.

Dietitians Association of Australia Chief Executive Claire Hewat comments “this has been an important collaborative step forward for our industries, with experts in the field working together over the past two years.

“At its core, the Guidelines provide a framework for guiding safe practice in the nutrition space towards building a fitter and healthier Australia.”

Bev Friend, Executive Officer of Sports Dietitians Australia concludes “this is an exciting step in the ongoing collaboration between the nutrition and fitness industries.

“We welcome the clarity that these guidelines provide, allowing AusREPs the opportunity to support their clients with appropriate and meaningful nutrition information to meet their health and fitness goals, while at the same time further strengthening the partnership that exists between AusREPs and Accredited Sports Dietitians."

To read the full guideline and how they affect you, go to www.fitness.org.au/nutrition 

Lower image shows Bill Moore.

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