School of Life Sciences  
 
 
LSC-20052 Nutrition and Energy Balance  
Co-ordinator: Dr Mirna Maarabouni    Room: HUX303A, Tel:33679  
Teaching Team:  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 734414
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
Biology Dual Honours (Level 2)
Biology Major (Level 2)
Biology Minor (Level 2)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
None

Barred Combinations
None

Description

This module will focus on understanding the essential components of our diet and discuss the changes in nutrition and energy balance that the human body encounters through development from birth to adulthood. The module will address the need for the body to adapt nutrition to meet its energy requirements during sports and exercise. It 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. 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.
This module will offer a number of laboratory based practical opportunities, including a visit to the Anatomy Suite at the Medical School to learn about the digestive system and also an Exercise Physiology practical to understand energy requirements during exercise. In addition, the lectures in this module will be complemented with guest lectures to highlight our current thinking in human nutrition and health. Ethical issues that concern diet and nutrition will be discussed in tutorials.

Indicative Contents
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and laboratory sessions as well as tutorials and private study, combined with on line support and readings from relevant text books.

Lectures:
Nutrition and energy balance; energy and organic macromolecules (fats, carbohydrates and proteins); absorption and functions of vitamins and minerals; alcohol; regulation of food intake: Hunger and satiety; positive energy balance and obesity; the role of nutrition in the development and management of cardiovascular diseases; nutrition and cancer; sport nutrition; nutrition and the human life course and nutrition in mental health.

Practicals:
Physiology of digestive tract; food digestion; calculating energy balances; estimating body composition; putting weight management theory into practice; exercise physiology.

Tutorial:
Ethical argument and discussion
Aims
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&ª. 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 will be achieved by assessments: 01,03
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 will be achieved by assessments: 01,03
Discuss current concepts of the differing nutritional requirements of humans with age will be achieved by assessments: 01
Describe how energy balance can be adjusted through dietary formulations and exercise and the limits of such adjustments will be achieved by assessments: 01,03
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 will be achieved by assessments: 01,03
Analyse an ethical issue associated with diet and nutrition will be achieved by assessments: 02
Study hours
Lectures: 21
Formative class tests: 2
Laboratory practicals: 18
Tutorial - ethics 3
Examination 2
Private study 104
Total 150
Description of Module Assessment
01: 2 Hour Exam weighted 75%
End of module examination
02: Essay weighted 10%
Short 1000 word essay
03: Laboratory Report weighted 15%
Laboratory report
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.