Nutrition Across the Lifespan
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BIOS3028 | Biosciences | 3 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- BIOS3028
- School
- Biosciences
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module considers nutrition at all stages of life. The lifespan will be split into pregnancy, infant (0-1 year), early years (1-5 years), primary school age (5-11 years), adolescence (12-18 years), adult (18-65 years), and old age (65+ years). At each stage we will consider the nutritional needs of that age group and how this can be achieved. Students then get the opportunity to be actively involved in the content for the second semester by choosing areas of lifespan nutrition they would like to learn about. The timetable for the spring semester will be built around these suggestions, examples of previous taught content has included oral health through the lifespan, bone health and prevention of osteoporosis, and nutrition and skin health. We aim to provide a programme of taught material that takes the student from cell to population level content which will support interest at both clinical and population level lifespan nutrition.
Target Students
Students studying Master of Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc/MSci Nutrition, BSc/MSci Food Science and Nutrition.
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 2 weeks
- One 3-hour lecture each week for 20 weeks
Typically three one-hour timetabled sessions per week: forty lectures, two two-hour seminars to consolidate learning, and discuss the assessments. The timetable will be finalised at the beginning of the academic year.
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: task equivalent to 1500 words on life course nutrition
- 50% Coursework 2: task equivalent to 1500 words linked to clinical and/or population nutrition
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The module will cover nutrition needs throughout the lifespan, from conception to old age in healthy populations, and also look at lifestyle and diet factors that may protect from or can cause disease.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Review the major concepts and principles of nutritional epidemiology.
2. Critically interpret epidemiological data in relation to nutrition and health and be able to construct balanced evidence-based arguments.
3. Evaluate the contribution of nutrition to early human growth, development, and physiological function.
4. Analyse the common themes and concepts in human nutrition and relate these to all stages of the lifespan and changing nutrient requirements.
5. Examine relationships between diet and lifestyle factors and how this impacts health and disease throughout their lifespan.
6. Reflect on global issues that may have a major impact on nutrition.