Health and Exercise Nutrition, 7.5 credits

Main field of study with advanced study

The courses Biochemistry 7.5 credits, Anatomy and Physiology 15 credits. Exemption of the requirement in Swedish is granted. English 6.

The course is part of the programme Biomedicine - Exercise Physiology. The course is given as a single subject course.

The aim of the course is for students to acquire knowledge about the significance of diet in both health and physical performance and acquire practical skills in performing dietary analysis and body composition measurements.

Following successful completion of the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• account for the chemical structure, prevalence and function of macro- and micronutrients
• account for the Nordic nutrition recommendations and their scientific basis, describe and discuss appropriate eating habits for good health in the short and long term

Skills and ability

• use suitable methods for gathering and analysing data such as nutritional intake and energy consumption and body composition
• use and communicate nutritional knowledge

Judgement and approach

• critically review popular literature and scientific information and claims in the field of nutrition in relation to health, well-being and performance

The course covers the structure of carbohydrates, fat, proteins, minerals and vitamins and their importance for the body, the body’s metabolism, and the provision of energy to the cells and body. Furthermore, the course covers the significance of diet in the onset and treatment of diseases, and the significance of diet in training and sports performance.

Teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, projects, seminars and laboratory sessions.

Examination is by individual written exam and oral and written presentation of the projects (presented individually and in groups), written submission of laboratory work (carried out in groups) and active participation in seminars.

If there are special reasons, the examiner may make exceptions from the specified examination format and allow a student to be examined in another way. Special reasons can e.g. be study support for students with disabilities.

Course evaluation is part of the course. This evaluation offers guidance in the future development and planning of the course. Course evaluation is documented and made available to the students.