Mantagua, Chile – Fourth-year students from the University of Playa Ancha (UPLA) have gained invaluable practical experience in sports nutrition through an initiative at Mantagua. The program allowed students to apply classroom knowledge by measuring body composition, weight, and carving techniques in athletes, enhancing their technical skills and understanding of rigorous teamwork.
Karen Gomez, another fourth-year student, highlighted the program’s impact: “Participating allowed me to understand more closely the real needs of athletes and strengthen learning through direct practice. Working with real people gives us a different outlook to the theory and reaffirms the importance of the role of the nutritionist in sports and high performance contexts.”
This initiative gains significant relevance when considering the national health landscape. Data from Chile’s Ministry of Sports (2025) indicates that 73.6% of children and adolescents in the country do not meet the World health Organization’s (WHO) physical activity recommendations. This statistic underscores the critical need for complete health promotion strategies, particularly from an early age. Sports clubs, such as Santiago Wanderers, play a vital role as community hubs in fostering healthy lifestyles through sports and nutrition education.
This practical experience not only bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world needs but also reinforces UPLA’s dedication to providing contextualized, transformative education that serves the community.
Source: Javiera Arrate Molinari, journalist of the General Directorate of Linking with the Media
