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LSC-20123 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-20123 - Nutrition and Health
Coordinator: Mirna Maarabouni Room: Third Floor Roo Tel: +44 1782 7 33679
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None


Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

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 also examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the aging process and how nutrition can influence these mechanisms.
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 cancer and 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.

Aims
In this module, you will explore the critical roles of macronutrients and micronutrients in nutrition and health. You will learn about diseases associated with imbalanced nutrient intake, the effects of alcohol metabolism, and the impact of nutrition on development from pregnancy through aging. You will study the molecular mechanisms of ageing, nutrient requirements at different life stages, and the relationship between nutrition and diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions. This module will provide you with essential insights into the interplay between diet and health throughout the lifespan.

Intended Learning Outcomes

explain the roles of macronutrients and micronutrients in human nutrition and their effects on overall health: 1,3
discuss diseases associated with imbalanced nutrient intake and describe the effects of alcohol metabolism on health: 1
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: 3
analyse an ethical issue associated with diet and nutrition: 2
evaluate nutrient requirements and dietary recommendations at different stages of life, from pregnancy and infancy through aging: 1,3
explain the relationship between nutrition and the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions: 1,2

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 exam
36 hours completion of coursework
43 Hours Independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exam weighted 50%
Unseen exam - multiple choice and short answer questions
The unseen exam will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions assessing lecture based material. While the exam is designed to take approximately 1 hour, all students will be allocated 2 hours to ensure an inclusive and accessible assessment experience. Students will be permitted to take a double-sided A4 memory prompt of notes with them to the exam.

2: Essay weighted 20%
Short 1000 word essay
Students will write a short essay on an ethical argument concerning diet and nutrition.

3: Essay weighted 30%
Essay of 1500 words
Students will write an essay on nutrition and exercise performance with a word limit of 1500.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025