Nutrition (NUTR) 405
Nutrition in Health and Disease (Revision 3)

This version of NUTR 405 closed. To current version.

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Delivery mode: Individualized study. Computer access required.
Credits: 3 - Science
Prerequisite: NUTR 330
Precluded course: NUTR 331. (NUTR 405 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for NUTR 331.)
Centre: Centre for Science
Challenge for Credit: NUTR 405 has a Challenge for Credit option.

>> Overview | Outline | Evaluation | Course Materials | Course Fees | Course Availability


Overview

There is now a large body of evidence demonstrating that our diets have a major impact on our health. In this course we examine all aspects of this subject. We start by looking at nutrition research. Without some understanding of how nutrition advances are made, you cannot properly appreciate the significance of conflicting claims. From there we move to a survey of the dietary causes of the Western diseases. These are the diseases which are very common in the Western world and which are related to the lifestyle of the rich Westernized countries such as Canada.

We will be entering many controversial areas. The student must understand that nutrition science is in constant flux and that a "consensus" statement often means simply that this is what the majority of experts believe at the present time but that there are plenty of other experts around who don't agree. In this course we look at various controversies. The course also discusses nutrition issues throughout the life cycle.

This course is a continuation of NUTR 330. Accordingly, it is assumed that the student has a reasonable understanding of general nutrition.

Outline

  • Unit 1 General Principles of Research in Nutrition
  • Unit 2 Human Diet and Evolution
  • Unit 3 The Concept of Western Disease
  • Unit 4 Dietary Fibre, Gallstones, and Diseases Related to the Colon
  • Unit 5 Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Unit 6 Obesity and Diabetes
  • Unit 7 Cancer
  • Unit 8 What is the Healthiest Diet?
  • Unit 9 Special Diet Topics: Beverages (Alcohol, Tea, Coffee, Caffeine), Food Allergy and Intolerance, Osteoporosis, and nutrition labelling
  • Unit 10 Life Cycle Nutrition: Pregnancy, Lactation, and Infancy
  • Unit 11 Life Cycle Nutrition: Children, Teenagers, and the Elderly
  • Unit 12 Nutrition and Exercise
  • Unit 13 Consumer Concerns, Environmental Issues, and Hunger

Evaluation

To receive credit for NUTR 405, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least "C-" (60 percent), a grade of at least 55 percent on the final examination and must obtain at least 60 percent on each assignment. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Mid-term Exam Final Exam Total
15% 12% 33% 40% 100%

Course Materials

Textbook

Whitney, E. N., and S. R. Rolfes. 2002. Understanding Nutrition, 9th ed. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Other Material

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, a computer disk, and a book of readings.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

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(780) 675-6111, (800) 788-9041
Opened in Revision 3, Nov. 7/03.
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This page was updated by G. Zahara