SHN6182 - Healthy Weight: Practical Strategies

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the scientific and social scientific basis of healthy weight
Critically evaluate selected methods for weight loss and management
Discuss practical considerations for specific populations in relation to the promotion of healthy weight

Content:

Definitions and categories of weight. Impact of weight across the human lifecycle: mechanisms, health consequences and socio-cultural factors. Factors influencing weight control.

Diagnosis and anthropometric assessments. Principles of energy balance.

Current policy and initiatives (international, national and local). Traditional prevention and treatment approaches (Diet, Physical Activity (PA) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) & lifestyle education including application of behaviour change models).

Diet: Healthy eating strategies, key nutrients and dietary sources of energy, energy requirements through the life cycle, dietary assessment/monitoring. PA: understanding of Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and physical activity level (PAL), PA and appetite regulation, PA assessment/monitoring.

Future directions: social marketing, individual choice versus the built environment.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Delivery will consist of lectures accompanied by an interactive seminar session. The lectures will cover the theoretical underpinning of the topics listed. The seminars will be a combination of discussion led by tutors and students with interactive tasks in order to facilitate understanding and application of knowledge. Some of those will involve small group work with peers as well as independent work.

Lectures
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: Cohort

Seminar
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours:160

Further details relating to assessment Essay (Coursework):
It is intended that this will be in the form of a literature review that explores the scientific rationale of one specific method of weight loss. Students will select a weight loss method and critically evaluate its effectiveness in promoting weight loss, health and wellbeing.

Poster presentation (Practical)
It is intended that this will be a poster presentation. Students will prepare, present and defend a poster. An indicative title might be: 'The Role of Physical Activity in Weight Management and Regulation'. (Posters should include details of related academic studies, policies and campaigns)

Assessment:

001 Poster Presentation 10 minutes mid semester 1 50%
002 Literature Review 2000 words end of semester 1 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Jo McDonald
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6S2

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