Nutrition, Exercise and Disordered Eating in Substance Use and Recovery: An Interdisciplinary Approach
Description
Designed to explore the complex interrelationship between mental and physical health in the context of substance use recovery, the short course Nutrition, Exercise and Disordered Eating in Substance Use and Recovery: An Interdisciplinary Approach provides both foundational and applied knowledge for individuals preparing for or currently engaged in clinical or community-based health settings or academic fields of study.
Grounded in current evidence and informed by interdisciplinary perspectives, the short course promotes a holistic understanding of the behavioral and physiological determinants that contribute to both the development of substance use disorders and the pursuit of long-term recovery. Structured around one introductory and three core modules, the short course critically examines how factors such as nutrition, physical activity and body image intersect with the etiology and treatment of substance use. These domains, supported by contemporary empirical research, equip learners with a comprehensive grasp of the biopsychosocial dynamics essential to effective, sustained recovery.
The Curriculum Infusion Package (CIP) was developed by the University of Nevada, Reno Extension in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (PS ROTA-R).
Audience
This short course can be integrated into undergraduate academic course work for students pursuing studies in health sciences, psychology, social work, public health, or related disciplines, as well as for professionals currently working in fields connected to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Introduction to Nutrition
Module 1 lays a foundation for understanding how biopsychosocial factors—ranging from motivations and stigma to basic models of nutrition, exercise, and eating—interact to shape substance use disorders and the recovery journey.
General Nutrition and Recovery
Module 2 examines how substance use disrupts nutrient absorption and leads to malnutrition, highlights the critical roles of macro- and micronutrients in physical and mental recovery, and offers practical dietary strategies to enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
Exercise and Movement
Module 3 examines evidence that exercise enhances abstinence and mental health in people with substance use disorders, explores underlying neurobiological and cardiorespiratory mechanisms, addresses the unique challenges of exercise testing in this population, and proposes future research and advocacy directions for movement-based interventions.
Body Image, Weight Concerns, & Dieting
Module 4 examines the bidirectional links between eating disorders and substance use—reviewing diagnoses, comorbidities, and the role of body image and weight concerns in driving harmful behaviors—while offering biopsychosocial, evidence-based strategies for integrated assessment and intervention.
