The new program emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition and self-health factors such as sleep, ultimately aiming to improve the overall performance and health of student-athletes.
Author: Shauna Masters
Media Contact: Anna Jones
In Birmingham, Alabama, our commitment to developing the potential of young athletes goes far beyond the playing field. That’s why experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham partnered with Bama Wellness Advocacy to launch an innovative nutrition program for Birmingham City Schools athletes. The new program emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition and self-health factors such as sleep, ultimately aiming to improve the overall performance and health of student-athletes.
The program is led by James Jones, chief athletic trainer for the UAB Department of Orthopedics and Birmingham City Schools. He serves as the direct medical liaison between UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine and Birmingham City Schools, scholar-athletes and their parents. Recognizing the critical needs of these students, Jones collaborated with Jackie Fazikas, president of Bama Wellness Advocacy, to envision a comprehensive 12-week nutrition program. This effort was greatly facilitated through his Give as One campaign at UAB, which provided additional financial support to start the program.
“Over the past 24 years in this position, I have recognized the need to support nutrition education to improve not only athletic performance but also academic performance,” Jones said. “The opportunity to obtain additional funding through UAB’s Give as One campaign has provided us with the financial resources to pilot a program around nutrition education. At this point, we can certainly expand this program to other sports. It is our hope and consequent commitment to the entire Birmingham City Schools community. ”
Jones has noticed that many athletes lack nutritional awareness when it comes to what they eat, which impacts their performance on and off the court.
“We found that nutritional deficiencies were causing problems, including hydration issues and frequent cramps during the sports season,” Jones says.
He partnered with Fuzzikas, a certified health coach, and together they embarked on a mission to educate students about the transformative power of healthy eating habits and lifestyle choices.
“Our goal is not just to improve athletic performance, but to promote overall well-being,” Fazikas said.
The program includes weekly sessions covering a variety of health topics, interactive food demonstrations, tasting sessions, and distribution of nutritious foods to students and their families.
The pilot program initially targeted the basketball teams at Huffman and Ramsey High Schools, both of which are known for their athletic accomplishments. The overwhelmingly positive response from students, families, and coaches highlighted the potential for this program to be implemented more widely.
“How you nourish yourself is important, with nutrition, rest, recovery, and what you say to yourself, and that’s what we tried to teach our students,” Fazikas said.
Looking to the future, Jones and Bama Wellness Advocacy, with continued support from UAB Orthopedics and UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine, will expand the program to other sports and work with additional community partners to expand its reach. We aim to expand.
Jones said athletics is just the beginning of the program, and the ultimate vision is one that extends to students throughout the school system. Calvin Spermon Jr., MD, assistant professor in the UAB School of Family and Community Medicine and medical director for Birmingham City Schools, praised Jones and the program.
“We are excited about the work James has done in designing and implementing this project,” Spelmon said. “This is a great program to implement because nutrition is of paramount importance to these children. As they say, ‘we are what we eat,’ or lack thereof.”
The program’s early successes highlighted the vital role of community cooperation and philanthropic support. Fred Horton, executive director of UAB’s Department of Orthopedics, emphasized the importance of UAB’s involvement in efforts to promote nutritional education and overall health for student-athletes.
“Our participation in initiatives like the Give as One campaign strengthens UAB’s commitment to supporting our communities and nurturing the potential of our youth,” Horton said. “Our involvement further supports our department’s mission to be seen as a leading provider in all aspects of athlete health.”
As the program continues to evolve, the UAB Department of Orthopedics and the UAB Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine remain dedicated to providing student-athletes with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed on and off the field. Through initiatives like this, Birmingham’s young athletes are not only equipped with the tools to succeed, but also inspired to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.
