Dr Andrew Chappell, Lecturer in Nutrition at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh who is also a World Champion Pro Natural Bodybuilder, explains why nutrition is essential to success in the world of physique sports.
When many people think about bodybuilding and physique sports, they picture hours spent in the gym, intense training sessions and carefully crafted workout programmes. While training is undoubtedly important, one of the biggest determinants of success takes place away from the weights rack, and in the kitchen. Of course I’m talking about the importance of nutrition.
As a Lecturer in Nutrition at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, my research interests focus on exercise science and sports nutrition, including specialist populations of natural bodybuilders, physique athletes, strongmen and powerlifters. Alongside my academic career, I have spent over 20 years competing, coaching and researching within the natural bodybuilding community. I’ve run events, prepared athletes, competed in shows, run workshops, performed master of ceremonies duties and even spent time applying fake tan to athletes. I’ve done it all. These experiences have reinforced a simple but often overlooked truth: successful physique development is driven just as much by long term planning which involves a solid foundation in nutritional strategy. I think you could even argue an athlete with sub-par training and optimal dietary intake will outperform an optimal training strategy with sub-par dietary intake.
The unique challenges of physique sports
Natural bodybuilding is unlike many other sports. Success is not measured by how fast an athlete can run or how much weight they can lift. Instead, athletes are judged subjectively based on their physique: muscle mass, symmetry, conditioning and presentation.
Achieving these outcomes requires athletes to carefully manage their nutrition for months, and sometimes years, before competition. They manipulate macronutrients, micronutrients, fluid, and energy in a bid to build the perfect physique. The challenge lies in simultaneously preserving muscle mass, reducing body fat and maintaining health, performance and wellbeing - although the idea of health, wellbeing and performance is often an afterthought for many involved in the sport. This is where the expertise of a qualified nutritionist becomes invaluable.
Nutrition in physique sports is about much more than simply eating less to lose weight. Athletes need individualised strategies that account for energy requirements, protein intake, nutrient timing, recovery, dietary adherence and psychological wellbeing. Get these factors wrong and the consequences can include muscle loss, poor performance, increased injury risk, hormonal disruption and burnout. Unfortunately, I hear horror stories every year, where athletes' welfare is disregarded in pursuit of winning. Fortunately, effects are often not acute, however I have known athletes to end up in hospital, and recovery to take months.
Why evidence matters
The fitness industry is filled with myths, fads and conflicting advice. Social media can make it seem as though everyone is an expert, yet many recommendations are unsupported by scientific evidence. In fact, one of the many reasons people want to work with me is to cut down on the misinformation and get straight to the evidence based and practical approach.
One of the key roles of a nutritionist is therefore helping athletes distinguish between evidence-based practice and misinformation. Research in sports nutrition has advanced significantly over the last decade, improving our understanding of areas such as protein requirements, dieting strategies, supplementation and competition preparation.
For athletes, working with a qualified nutrition professional provides confidence that nutritional decisions are based on scientific evidence rather than trends or anecdotes. A nutritionist can interpret research findings and translate complex science into practical strategies that fit an athlete’s lifestyle and goals. Moreover, bodybuilders are very fond of working conventional dietary approaches, so it’s important to steer them towards practices which are more likely to be successful for their competition preparation.
The human side of nutrition
Nutrition is not simply about calculations and meal plans. It is fundamentally about people. As well as working out the nuts and bolts of nutrition, I’m also a problem solver and motivator.
Every athlete comes with a unique set of circumstances, motivations and challenges. A recreational gym-goer pursuing their first physique competition will require a different approach from an elite competitor preparing for a national championship.
Nutritionists play an important role in supporting behaviour change, building positive relationships with food and helping athletes develop sustainable habits. This is particularly important in physique sports, where extreme approaches to dieting can sometimes lead to unhealthy outcomes. The best nutrition support takes a holistic approach, considering both performance and long-term health. Success should not come at the expense of physical or psychological wellbeing.
From research to practice
My own work in natural bodybuilding has focused on understanding how athletes prepare for competition and the nutritional practices they adopt. This area remains relatively under-researched compared with mainstream sports, making it an exciting field for future investigation. Bodybuilders tend to be sceptical of researchers, and don’t always like to reveal their secrets. However, through research, we can improve understanding of how athletes can achieve their physique goals while minimising health risks and maintaining performance.
What makes sports and exercise nutrition particularly fascinating is the ability to connect scientific discovery with real-world application. Research findings have the greatest impact when they can be translated into practical advice that helps athletes perform better, recover effectively and remain healthy throughout their sporting careers.
Studying nutrition at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
At Queen Margaret University, we're passionate about preparing the next generation of nutrition professionals. Whether you're interested in sports nutrition, food science, public health or clinical nutrition, a broad understanding of the discipline provides a strong foundation for a rewarding career. Our BSc (Hons) Nutrition degree combines nutritional science with the practical and professional skills needed across a wide range of sectors. Students explore topics including human nutrition, physiology, metabolism, public health, food science and sports nutrition, while developing the ability to think critically, evaluate evidence and apply scientific principles to real-world challenges.
For those interested in health, exercise and performance, nutrition offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference, whether supporting athletes, improving public health, contributing to food innovation or conducting research.
Working as a nutritionist – A growing profession
As awareness of nutrition's importance continues to grow, so too does demand for qualified nutrition professionals. Athletes, sports teams, healthcare organisations and communities increasingly recognise that nutrition is fundamental to both health and performance.
Natural bodybuilding and physique sports provide a powerful example of this. Behind every successful physique is not only hard training, but also careful nutritional planning, scientific understanding and professional support.
For anyone considering a career in nutrition, there has never been a more exciting time to enter the profession. It is a rapidly evolving field with growing opportunities to make a real impact. At Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, our BSc (Hons) Nutrition degree equips students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to help shape healthier, stronger futures for individuals and communities alike.
