Course Description
Developmental perspective to describe the interplay of genetic predispositions, environmental, behavioral, cultural, and economic factors that increase risk for childhood obesity. Discussion of the health consequences, current public policy, and evidence-based strategies for prevention and treatment, including diet and physical activity, of childhood obesity.
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 childhood
obesity. 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 about childhood obesity: 1) present to the class a
research-based overview of a selected childhood obesity-related
topic (with 5 to 10 references) or 2) write a research-based
paper that reviews a selected childhood obesity-related topic
(5 to 10 pages, with 5 to 10 references).
Athena Title
Childhood Obesity
Prerequisite
NUTR 2100 or NUTR 2100E or NUTR 2100H
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1) Describe demographics of childhood obesity, including socioeconomic disparities 2) Describe the adverse psychosocial and physical health outcomes linked to childhood obesity 3) Use a developmental and ecological framework to discuss a range of risk factors and how they may affect childhood obesity prevalence 4) Identify aspects of children’s environments, including family, childcare, school, community, media, and public policy initiatives that may affect children’s obesity risk 5) Summarize the current state of children’s obesity prevention and treatment efforts 6) Discuss the opportunities, barriers, and challenges to preventing and treating childhood obesity
Topical Outline
1. Childhood Obesity: Scope of the problem 2. Defining, assessing, and screening for childhood obesity 3. Trends over time, race and income disparities in childhood obesity 4. Short- and long-term health consequences of childhood obesity 5. Genetics, epigenetics, family history and childhood obesity 6. Prenatal and maternal factors affecting childhood obesity 7. Infancy: Early postnatal influences on childhood obesity 8. Factors affecting obesity during the transition to the adult diet 9. Family, childcare influences on childhood obesity 10. Individual differences: Temperament, behavioral phenotypes 11. Macro-environmental factors: Food marketing, cost, media, availability 12. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and childhood obesity 13. Healthcare, childcare and schools: Part of the solution or part of the problem? 14. Government policies and programs related to childhood obesity