LSC-20052 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Within this module you will gain an understanding of the essential components of our diet so that you can discuss the various changes in nutrition and energy balance occurs within the human body throughout our development, from birth to adulthood.
We will explore why it is important for the body to be able to adapt nutrition to meet its energy requirements during sports and exercise. We will discuss the consequences of dietary imbalances on human health and how nutrition and diet can contribute to many `lifestyle disorders¿ including obesity-related disorders, coronary heart disease, glucose intolerance and diabetes.
Overall, the module aims to give you an informed, research-based understanding of how nutrition, diet and energy balance can impact human health by exploring and integrating aspects of physiology, biochemistry, food science and exercise physiology.

The study of human nutrition was once focused on understanding the essential components of our diet and the consequences of dietary deficiencies on human health. It is now recognised that in western societies at least, dietary excesses contribute to a clutch of inter-related disorders known as the metabolic syndrome which include obesity related disorders, coronary heart disease, glucose intolerance and diabetes. The recognition that imbalances in our diet can be a contributory factor in these disorders as well as other diseases such as breast cancer is leading to improved public understanding of the interrelationship between diet and health, and a popular move towards healthy eating. This module aims to provide an informed, research based understanding of nutrition, diet and energy balance on human health, by integrating aspects of physiology, biochemistry, food science and exercise physiology.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Identify the principal components of a balanced diet and how they are digested, absorbed and metabolised in a healthy adult with reference to underlying research and dietary principles: 1
Discuss current concepts of how nutritional requirements of humans differ with age: 1
Describe how energy balance can be adjusted through dietary formulations and exercise and the limits of such adjustments: 1,3
With reference to current knowledge and its potential limitations, explain the physiological adaptations that occur during prolonged physical exercise (training) and the special nutritional requirements that might improve athletic performance: 1,3
Analyse an ethical issue associated with diet and nutrition: 2
Explain the concept of energy balance and identify the links between the regulation of food intake, energy imbalance and disease within an individual and within populations: 1

Study hours

11x 1 hour supporting workshops/tutorials
1x 3 hour tutorial related to the ethics essay assessment
11x 5 hours engagement with asynchronous content
2 hours online tasks
36 hours completion of coursework
43 Hours Independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment