Course Description
Evidence relating societal reductions in human movement to the
obesity epidemic; fundamental aspects of body composition; and
mechanisms through which physical activity and exercise prevent
and treat obesity, with special reference to the influence of
life stage.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will have different exams than the
undergraduates in order to document their advanced ability to
integrate and apply research-based information about physical
activity, exercise, and obesity at a particular stage of the
lifespan. Also, graduate students will be required to do one of
the following to document their advanced skills in critical
thinking, appropriately evaluating the research and clinical
literature, and competency in applying this research-based
information for a particular stage of the lifespan:
1) present to the class a research-based overview of a selected
obesity-related nutrition topic (with 5 to 10 references), or
2) write a research-based paper that reviews a selected
nutrition and obesity-related topic (5 to 10 pages, with 5 to
10 references).
Athena Title
Exercise and Obesity
Undergraduate Prerequisite
Students must be enrolled in a professional program to register for this course
Graduate Prerequisite
Students must be enrolled in a professional program to register for this course
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- The student will be able to describe the role that energy expenditure plays in risk for obesity and obesity-related diseases and conditions throughout the lifespan.
- The student will be able to identify life-stage-appropriate personal strategies and evidence-based interventions to promote energy expenditure to reduce obesity and associated co-morbidities.
Topical Outline
- • Demographics of obesity and physical inactivity across the lifespan
o Definitions and assessment of overweight or obesity
o Definitions and measurement of energy expenditure inclusive of exercise, physical activity, and sedentary time in our contemporary society
o Historical evidence regarding changes in energy expenditure and weight status
- • Risk factors for physical inactivity
o Genetics
o Psycho-social influences
o The built environment
o Technology influences
- • Conventional field, clinical, and laboratory research methodology
o Assessment of body composition (fat, lean, and bone mass)
o Assessment of energy expenditure
o Research design considerations
- • Physical activity/exercise and obesity interactive effects on co-morbidities, “fit vs. fat” debate
o Cardiovascular diseases
o Diabetes mellitus
o Cancero Psycho-social diseases/conditions (e.g., fatigue, anxiety, depression)
o Physical function/disability
- • Energy balance and regulation of energy expenditure
o Determinants of energy expenditure, including resting metabolic rate, thermic effect of feeding, and human movement and their physiological controls
o Mechanisms of exercise and physical activity effects for obesity, treatment of obesity (i.e., weight loss), and
weight loss maintenance
o Implications of energy and macronutrient intake interactions with energy expenditure on risk for obesity and co-morbidities
o Implications of other perturbations of the energy balance equation on energy expenditure, including energy intake, sleep, and stress
o Maturation and life stage, especially growth and sex hormones, influences on energy expenditure
- • Prevention of physical inactivity across the lifespan
o Current physical activity public health guidelines for physical activity
o Current exercise guidelines
o Life-stage appropriate evidence-based programs to prevent physical inactivity
o Policy, environmental, and community factors
