In this Iron Culture/Sports Nutrition Association/Sigma Nutrition Radio crossover episode, host Eric Helms is joined by co-host Danny Lennon and guest Alex Thomas. Alex is the president of the Sports Nutrition Association who started this association years ago when he was rudely awakened to the fact that he couldn’t provide nutrition advice in his personal training clinic, despite having done so for years, having an RD on staff, and getting a degree in exercise science and nutrition. This prompted him to do a deep dive into scope of practice, insurance, legal requirements to provide nutrition coaching, and eventually to realise just how large of a gap there is in the nutrition coaching industry. Becoming aware of how common coach negligence leading to poorer consumer health is, spurred him to create the Sports Nutrition Association. Now SNA seeks to elevate the profession of nutrition coaching and protect the public. In this episode we navigate the confusing world of scope of practice, both legally and from a liability perspective, and why it’s not only an important box ticking exercise, but a fundamental part of serving your clients.

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction to a podcast that needs a longer name and title

01:32 What is the Sports Nutrition Association?

06:15 Protected titles, scope of practice, and insurance

22:30 The importance of scope of practice and advice for practitioners

38:58 Trends and big claims in the space, risk/reward and consequences

51:36 Areas where practitioners should focus on and what to do going forward

1:00:06 The career pyramid for nutritionists

1:02:01 Closing out and where to find out more about the SNA

Website https://sportsnutritionassociation.com/

Instagram @sportsnutritionassociation https://www.instagram.com/sportsnutritionassociation/

Sigma Nutrition Radio https://sigmanutrition.com/podcast-welcome/