units

NUT3002

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 22 November 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics
OfferedClayton Second semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Lisa Ryan

Synopsis

Diet and disease is an integrated study of the role of diet in the causation and treatment of chronic diseases that are endemic in westernised societies. This unit builds upon the scientific concept of disease aetiology explored in Integrated Science Systems (BND2103) and the critical interpretation of scientific literature and research skills developed in years 1 and 2. Learners will explore the epidemiology of the major nutrition related diseases, their causal pathways and population based recommendation for prevention. The rationale for the application of dietary modifications for patients with specific disease states and the means of evaluating dietary treatment is explored. Nutrition related emerging issues in disease aetiology and management are also explored and the emphasis on the important role of genetic susceptibility in nutrition science is continued.

Student centered teaching and learning methods will be used to support the delivery of the unit content. Students' participation as adult learners will be encouraged through the curricula with emphasis on extending their scientific communication skills.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Outline the role of diet in the aetiology, primary and secondary prevention, and management of major lifestyle related chronic disease and the strengths and limitations of diet in the prevention and management of conditions
  2. Explore lifestyle and additional risk factors implicated in chronic disease aetiology
  3. Integrate the science of the metabolic and molecular interactions implicated in chronic disease
  4. Explore the role of genetics and nutrition (nutrigenomics) in the development of disease
  5. Discuss the functional role of nutriceuticals in disease management and prevention
  6. Apply the epidemiology, medical and nutritional principles in the nutritional management of chronic lifestyle related diseases conditions
  7. Investigate appropriate dietary assessment methodologies in chronic disease
  8. Discuss emerging trends in diet related disease risk and treatment approaches
  9. Analyse and interpret the scientific literature using an evidence based approach
  10. Synthesise the scientific evidence and dietary assessment methodologies into practical research tools and nutrition education.

Assessment

Scientific essay (3,000 words) (30%)
Development of an evidence based nutritional resource (e.g. dietary assessment tool, pamphlet) for specific population groups (20%)
End of semester examination (50%)

Workload requirements

Lectures: 3 hours/week, Tutorials: 1 hour/week, SDL: 10 hours/week.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Lisa Ryan

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Nutrition and dietetics

Prerequisites

Must pass BND1002, BND1101, BND2002 and BND2103
or
BND1010 and a combination of any two relevant units (at the discretion of the unit convenor) from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences with a biochemistry and physiology component such as: PHY2032, PHY2042, BMS2031, BMS2021, BCH2022.

Master of Dietetics students are exempt from this prerequisite.