Over 8 million children and adolescents participate in sports in the United States, with the number of high school participants increasing every year for the past twenty years. Registered dietitian nutritionists need to understand the energy needs, as well as the physiological and psychological changes, of youth during this critical time in order to provide an evidence-based plan of care. Just like sports, the team approach focuses on the collaborative roles of sports medicine and sports nutrition in providing education on the importance of nutrition unique to child and adolescent athletes as it relates to growth, development, and peak performance. Given the prevalence of youth sports, the expertise of a sports dietitian, partnered with sports medicine, is needed to promote evidence-based principles for performance integrated with the unique nutritional needs for proper growth, development and disease prevention. Through lecture and a case-based discussion, this session will outline the medical and nutritional management of the adolescent athlete in order to highlight the integration of sports medicine and nutrition.

Planned with the Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group