Nutrition (NUTR) 405

Overview

There is now a large body of evidence demonstrating that diet has a major impact on health. In this course, we examine 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 survey the dietary causes of chronic diseases related to lifestyle, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Later units deal with other special topics.

This course examines many controversial areas. The student must understand that nutrition science is in constant flux—a “consensus” statement often simply reflects what the majority of experts believe; plenty of other experts may disagree. In this course we look at various controversies. The course also discusses nutrition issues throughout the lifecycle.

This course builds on NUTR 330. Accordingly, we assume 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 Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle
• Unit 4: Dietary Fibre, Gallstones, and Diseases Related to the Colon
• Unit 5: Cardiovascular Diseases
• Unit 6: Obesity and Diabetes
• Unit 7: Diet and Cancer
• Unit 8: What Is the Healthiest Diet?
• Unit 9: Special Topics
• Unit 10: Life Cycle Nutrition I: Pregnancy, Lactation, and Infancy
• Unit 11: Life Cycle Nutrition II: 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, you must obtain at least 55% on the final examination, 60% on assignments 1 and 2, and obtain an overall course mark of at least 60%. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

The midterm and final examinations for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Other Materials

Health Canada. Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. Ottawa: Author, 2011. [online]

McGuire, Beerman, Dunford & Doyle. Diet & Wellness Plus, 1st Edition. (2014). Salem, OR: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. [online]

Challenge for Credit Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the NUTR 405 challenge registration, you must achieve a minimum grade of C- (60 percent) on the challenge examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form