Course overview
In this course, students will develop an understanding of the relationship between diet, nutrition, exercise and health and on completion be able to provide general advice to apparently healthy clients. Nutrient sufficiency and human needs (planning a healthy diet; nutritional status; macronutrients - their food sources, fate and use in the body; dietary fibre and health; micronutrients - human needs and dietary sources). Energy concepts (energy balance; weight control; obesity and methods of weight loss diets). Nutrition and lifestyle (nutritional issues in lifestyle diseases; diabetes, heart disease and cancer; designer foods - functional foods, healthy fats, genetically engineered foods; food safety).
Course learning outcomes
- Describe the basic functions of macronutrients, their common sources, and their role in energy balance and general wellbeing.
- Evaluate the diets of individuals according to sound nutritional criteria, use current guidelines to provide appropriate general advice on nutrition and identify the strengths and limitations of commonly used methods for measuring and analysing dietary intake.
- Identify nutritionally vulnerable groups in Australian society and inappropriate dietary behaviour.
- Describe the relationship between diet and specific lifestyle diseases.
- Evaluate controversial issues in nutrition, including common fad diets and use of ergogenic aids.
- Critically evaluate evidence that underpins nutrition advice and recognise when information in popular press cannot be substantiated.
- Apply nutrition principles to exercise and sports science.