2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Lecture Series: Exercise is Medicine

Professor David Cameron-Smith and Dr Nicholas Gant: “Nutrition and Exercise: Protein for Power vs. Carbohydrate for Performance”

Exercise is medicine but this “medicine” requires nutrition to make it palatable. “Brain food” can improve physical performance and health through modulation of energy supplies to the brain. Understanding the brain’s role in controlling metabolism and its influence on fatigue is one of the big-picture questions in exercise science. Fatigue may also be associated with muscle loss, the processes and pathways of which are linked to cellular mechanisms involving the signalling by amino acids to increase protein synthesis.

Professor David Cameron-Smith is Chair in Nutrition, Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland. Dr Nicholas Gant is Director of the Exercise Nutrition and Metabolism Laboratory and Academic Director of the Health and Performance Training Centre, University of Auckland Clinics at The University of Auckland.

This is the second of four Vice-Chancellors Lectures from 31 July to 9 August on the theme “Exercise is Medicine” hosted by the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at The University of Auckland. Physical inactivity is one of the greatest health problems of the 21st century. Although research indicates benefits from exercise in disease prevention and treatment, compliance is poor. These lectures by scientists, an epidemiologist, and physicians will enlighten and engage the issues that confront physical inactivity when “Exercise is Medicine”.

Admission is free and all are welcome. Lecture held in Fisher and Paykel Appliances Auditorium, Owen C Glen Building. No booking required. Evening parking available for $6 in lower levels of Owen G Glenn Building.