Please note: there may be some adjustments to the teaching arrangements published in the course catalogue for 2020-21. Given current circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic it is anticipated that some usual arrangements for teaching on campus will be modified to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff on campus; further adjustments may also be necessary, or beneficial, during the course of the academic year as national requirements relating to management of the pandemic are revised.

Obesity And Weight Management Specialisation MED5161

  • Academic Session: 2022-23
  • School: School of Medicine Dentistry and Nursing
  • Credits: 30
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Available to Erasmus Students: No

Short Description

Students will study aspects of Obesity and Weight Management. Through lectures and seminars, students will learn and appraise scientific evidence on the occurrence, causes, and consequences of overweight and obesity. Students will also critically evaluate methods that prevent and treat overweight and obesity, and will learn and appraise the key principles of lifestyle regimens for weight management.

Timetable

Classes will meet several times a week during semester 2

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

A 90 min written examination (40%).

This will cover intended learning objectives 1, 2, 4 and 5.


An individual coursework/set exercise activity of 1500-2000 words (40%).

This will cover intended learning objectives 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

 

An individual presentation (20%) consisting of presentation (80%) and summary & reflective evaluation (20%).

This will cover intended learning objectives 1, 4, 5 and 6.

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

 

The group work exercise cannot be resat.

Course Aims

To provide students with the skills to obtain, and critically evaluate, the scientific evidence on

overweight/obesity, including its prevalence, its aetiology, health consequences and prevention and management.

To develop competency in patient assessment, design and delivery of weight management regimens, monitoring and audit for service improvement.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

On completion of this specialisation course students will be able to:

 

1. Critically review and discuss the epidemiology of obesity and overweight and the reasons for its development.

2. Discuss, with reference to the evidence, the scale of obesity and weight gain problem in relation to health economics, the health complications of weight gain and the benefits of managed weight loss.

3. Critically review strategies for primary health care/community management of obesity: from recruitment and referral to specialist care and evaluation.

4. Discuss critically the evidence and guidelines on overweight/obesity treatment strategies, including nutrition, physical activity, pharmaceutical, surgical management and behavioural management

5. Critically review evidence for prevention of obesity and overweight and of obesity related health conditions in both adults and children.

6. Communicate and present research evidence and ideas clearly in a style appropriate to a variety of different audiences using different media.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.