Episode 157: Why your gymnast needs a pediatric/adolescent sports dietitian

Not all sports dietitians are created equal—especially when it comes to working with young, developing gymnasts. In this episode, I’m breaking down why your gymnast needs a pediatric/adolescent sports dietitian, not just any sports RD who’s used to fueling adult athletes. The nutritional needs of gymnasts are not the same as grown adults like college or professional athletes. Your gymnast is still growing, developing, and navigating puberty—all while training like an elite athlete. That’s a unique combination that deserves a specialized approach.

As a parent, you want to work with someone who not only understands fueling for performance, but also knows how to support long-term health, hormonal development, injury prevention, and medical nuances like growth delays, allergies, or GI issues—all of which are way more common in this sport than most people realize. That’s what sets a pediatric/adolescent sports dietitian apart.

We’re doing all the sports nutrition things—helping with fueling before, during, and after practice and maximizing recovery. But there’s so much more to layer onto that. We’re also doing what’s called medical nutrition therapy, making sure these gymnasts are growing on developing on time.

In this episode you’ll learn about: 

• Why young gymnasts aren’t just “small adults” and can’t be treated as such nutritionally
• The difference between a general sports dietitian and a pediatric/adolescent sports dietitian and all the training required
• Why nutrition for gymnasts must be individualized and age-appropriate and can’t be generalized

 Links & Resources   

• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts 
• Episode 129: Why gymnast growth charts are so important to success in the sport
• Episode 112: Is your “tiny gymnast” actually underfueled, or growing normally for them?
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com