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SEK University Launches Free nutrition Center for Athletes and the Public
By Alice Thompson | SANTIAGO – 2025/06/20 08:34:50
The Nutrition Center (CAN) will offer free consultations starting june 30, providing both in-person and online support.
The Nutrition and Dietetics program at the SEK University has announced the opening of its Nutrition Center (CAN), an initiative designed to provide free nutrition consultations to athletes and the general public. The program aims to strengthen community ties and offer practical training for students in the Nutrition and Dietetics field.
Consultations will be available in a hybrid format,with face-to-face appointments for residents of the Metropolitan Region and online consultations for individuals in other parts of the country. The CAN will offer 8 weekly slots for general care and 4 for sports nutrition.Registration is required in advance via email at can@usek.cl, and no medical referral is necessary.
The program is open to people of all ages, from infants to seniors, with a focus on those with malnutrition, chronic noncommunicable diseases, bariatric patients, and individuals seeking to improve their eating habits. According to the 2024 nutritional map of Junaeb, 50.9% of the school population is affected by excess malnutrition, with a notable increase among pre-Kindergarten children.
Care will be provided by specialized professionals, including Gustavo Sepúlveda, a nutritionist with experience working with high-performance athletes and a member of the Chilean Olympic Committee, and Francis Rojas, a nutritionist from the SEK University with ongoing training in nutritional intervention strategies.
Karen Cruz Amengual, head of the program, stated that “CAN is part of an institutional plan that reinforces the link with the environment. Its purpose is not limited to improving the nutritional status of people, but also seeks to strengthen prevention and promote education in healthy lifestyles, integrating early curricular practice since second year as part of a professional training committed to public health “.
Prior experience in outreach and clinical care has shown a meaningful demand for accessible nutritional services and improvements in health indicators, which supports the implementation of this program as a response to a growing public health challenge.
Benefits of Nutritional Counseling
“CAN is part of an institutional plan that reinforces the link with the environment.”
Nutritional counseling offers personalized guidance to help individuals achieve their health goals through dietary modifications and lifestyle changes. Registered dietitians and nutritionists provide evidence-based advice tailored to specific needs and conditions.
Key benefits include:
