Level: Level 2
Age Group: 16+
Prerequisites: None

Guided Learning Hours:

• Short Self-Paced (SSP): 4 hours (4 CPD points) – covers Learning Outcomes 1–3 only
  
  
• Self-Paced/Tutor-Led: 15 hours (15 CPD points) – covers all 10 Learning Outcomes, excluding written tasks
• Tutor-Led (Extended): 18 hours (18 CPD points, including 2 additional points for written tasks)

The CPD in Understanding the Body’s Energy Systems for Fitness and Wellness is designed to give health, fitness, and wellness professionals a foundational understanding of how the human body generates and utilises energy during exercise and everyday activity. Participants will explore the three primary energy systems — the ATP‑PCr system, Glycolytic (lactic acid) system, and Oxidative (aerobic) system — learning how each functions biochemically and physiologically, when they are primarily activated, and how they overlap or transition depending on intensity and duration of activity.

This course also covers how training, nutrition, and recovery influence energy system efficiency, as well as the impacts of energy system fatigue on performance and overall wellness. By the end, learners will be equipped to create balanced training and lifestyle plans that consider energy system demands — helping clients optimise performance, recovery, and long-term health.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define the three main energy systems: ATP‑PCr, Glycolytic, and Oxidative, and describe their roles in physical activity.
• Explain how ATP is produced and used for energy in different intensities and durations of exercise.
• Differentiate between anaerobic and aerobic energy production and identify which energy system is dominant in various activities.
• Recognise how energy systems interact and transition during exercise and how training can influence their efficiency.
• Understand how nutrition, hydration, and supplementation support each energy system and recovery.
• Develop training programs that target and balance all energy systems for overall fitness.
• Outline recovery strategies that facilitate energy system replenishment after high-intensity or endurance exercise.
• Identify signs of energy system fatigue and apply strategies to manage or prevent performance decline.
• Appreciate the psychological and mental aspects of energy system fatigue and how mental resilience and conditioning contribute to performance under stress.
• Provide informed guidance on energy system training, nutrition support, and recovery planning for clients aiming for wellness or athletic performance.

Short Self-Paced (SSP) and Self-Paced/Tutor-Led:
Participants will complete auto‑marked questions aligned with each of the assessment criteria. This ensures understanding of the theory behind energy systems, their functions, and practical application.

Tutor-Led (Extended):
Participants will complete three written tasks in which they apply their knowledge — for example, designing a balanced training and nutrition plan that uses energy system theory, planning recovery protocols, or crafting client guidance on energy‑system specific workouts. These tasks will be assessed and receive tutor feedback to support applied learning.

The CPD in Understanding the Body’s Energy Systems for Fitness and Wellness offers a comprehensive, science‑based framework for fitness professionals, coaches, and wellness practitioners. By mastering how the body produces and uses energy across different systems, alongside nutrition and recovery strategies, learners can deliver more effective, tailored training programmes. This course empowers professionals to support client performance, reduce risk of overtraining and fatigue, and promote long-term health — combining physiological insight with practical application for sustainable wellness and fitness outcomes.

The course specification outlined below include the learning outcomes, assessment requirements, and all associated assessment criteria.