London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The overall module aims are to: 

• Understand the key food systems and diets related to risk factors for chronic diseases.
• Assess nutrition-related risk factors as they relate to mechanisms, epidemiology and systems. 
• Identify, summarise and interpret a range of evidence to determine the potential priority actions in a range of contexts.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the relationship between nutrition and chronic disease and the likely mechanisms involved.
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of epidemiological methods available to assess nutrition-disease relationships.
• Critically evaluate the validity of consensus views of common nutrition-related chronic diseases through the appraisal of the epidemiological evidence.
• Critically evaluate strategies to prevent nutrition-related chronic diseases and the evidence base required to implement policy.

Session Content

The module is expected to include sessions addressing the following topics:

• A detailed introduction to the principles of nutritional epidemiology, including key tools such as the measurement of dietary intake.
• A thorough discussion of the evidence base linking nutrition to major chronic diseases – cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes and bone health – involving talks from experts and student-led group work.
• An exploration of nutrition-health policy issues in relation to NCDs, including how evidence is translated into policy.
• Sessions on topics including genetics, physical activity and nutrition of the elderly. 
• Throughout the module, examples are taken from a variety of settings and the themes of the food system changes, nutrition transition and globalization are emphasised.

Mode of delivery

This module is delivered predominantly face-to-face. Where specific teaching methods (lectures, seminars, discussion groups) are noted in this module specification these will be delivered by predominantly face-to-face sessions. There will be a combination of live and interactive activities (synchronous learning) as well as self-directed study (asynchronous learning).

Assessment

Assessment will be based on the preparation of an individual report on an issue currently relevant to the field of nutrition-related chronic disease. This assessment will constitute 100% of the module marks.

Credits

• CATS: 15
• ECTS: 7.5

Module specification

For full information regarding this module please see the module specification.