Course overview
The aim of this course is for students to develop client-centred dietary and exercise plans that consider environmental and sociocultural influences on weight, and demonstrate their understanding of the relationship between nutrient intake, energy output and weight management. Nutritional, environmental and sociocultural influences on weight; aetiology and health impacts of underweight, overweight and obesity; assessment approaches in weight management; energy metabolism; regulation of eating behaviour, appetite control and body weight; energy nutrients and weight management; physical activity for health and weight management; impacts of different body mass on exercise and physical activity; evidenced based approaches to weight management; models of behaviour change and motivational strategies for weight management; eating disorders; childhood obesity.
Course learning outcomes
- Apply evidence-based diet and exercise principles to design plans for healthy eating and weight loss with consideration of the aetiology and sociocultural influences on weight management and behaviour change.
- Discuss the impact of chronic disease and body mass on issues such as lifestyle, mental health, physical function (movement) and exercise-related physiological demands, including considerations for paediatric populations.
- Describe the role of genetics and nutrients on the regulation of eating and appetite control.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the pathways for macronutrient metabolism and energy synthesis, and apply these to different physical activity states.
- Describe how energy expenditure is regulated.
- Discuss the role of behaviour change to sustain lifestyle modifications that improve people's health and wellbeing using case studies.