NNEK15004U Nutrition and physical activity for the improvement of health in the aged

Volume 2015/2016
Education

MSc Programme in Human Nutrition

Content

The focus of this course will be on the increased importance of nutrition and physical activity for health, disease prevention and quality of life in the aging population. The course also includes age-related physiological and metabolic changes and age related life style diseases as well as a basic introduction to the field of gerontology, including the normal aging process, the demographic development, and concepts of healthy/successful/active aging.

Learning Outcome

The main objectives of the course are to provide the students with knowledge regarding age related physiological changes and how these may be affected by diet and physical activity to improve health and life quality. Furthermore, students will aquire knowledge on effective individualised strategies and interventions which may improve health and life quality in an aging population.

After completion of the course students should be able to:

 

Knowledge:

  • Describe demography of aging and the aging process
  • Describe the physiological changes that occur with age
  • Describe the dietary intake and physical activity of older adults and define physiological, psychosocial and mental factors that affect nutritional intake and the level of physical activity
  • Explain interactions between dietary intake, physical activity and physiological, psycosocial and mental changes
  • Describe diseases related to poor nutrient and physical inactivity in the aged population

 

Skills:

  • Discuss interventions which provide food and/or nutrition and/or physical activity for older adults, including restricting and promoting factors among the older adults
  • Discuss the  recommendations for nutrition and physical activity for older adults, including supplements, and specially-target foods/optimised foods for (specific groups of) older adults
  • Demonstrate ability to perform assessment of nutritional status and physical capacity and health status in the elderly

 

Compentencies:

  • Independently be able to perform evidence based evaluation of effect of nutritional and physical activity interventions in selected diseases of the elderly
  • Identify gaps in existing knowledge in the field of aging, nutrition and physical activity and make suggestions for future studies
  • Make dietary and physical activity recommendations to the elderly based on evaluation of scientific evidence, as well as psycosocial, mental and physical abilities

Will be announced at study start at Absalon.

Basic knowledge about human physiology and nutrition physiology.
Lectures with exemplification and theoretical exercises
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 24
  • Preparation
  • 80
  • Study Groups
  • 75
  • Theory exercises
  • 27
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, Udarbejdes løbende og aflevering ved kursets afslutning
Oral examination, 20 minutes
The students will be given a written group assignment at the beginning of the course. They are allowed to use all papers from the course, notes and the internet.

oral exam weighs 50 % written assignment weighs 50 %
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

The final report must be uploaded at the end of week 9.

Re-exam

Oral examination in written report.

Criteria for exam assesment

The evaluation will consider skills mainly from the strength of the arguments and an overall evaluation of the answer.