OVERVIEW

Nutritional Epidemiology aims to provide students with detailed knowledge on health protection through proper nutrition. The course illustrates the deep interaction between protective and preventive factors arising from nutrition and lifestyles, in maintaining the health status of the general population and specific population groups most vulnerable to external noxae.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Nutritional epidemiology aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge about health protection through proper nutrition. Students will be provided with the scientific methodology on an epidemiological basis to analyze lifestyles and dietary patterns that may constitute risk factors in the genesis of diseases in the general population and in particular groups such as those represented by adolescents and the elderly. Students will be provided with the knowledge of: protective and preventive factors to counter the onset of the main diseases; nutritional prevention factors of obesity and dietary dysfunction in those at risk; factors that can promote healthy ageing. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the contents and objectives of National Prevention Plans (PNP), the surveillance systems for correct lifestyles and nutritional education measures.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities and individual study will allow the student to:
- know  the main factors of correct nutrition and their impact on the maintenance of health status
- acquire the knowledge to carry out prevention and intervention programmes on the population

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

The course is structured in frontal lessons carried out by teachers

Please refer to the AulaWeb specific teaching request for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Health protection through proper nutrition

Health education

Healthy Food Models (Food Pyramid and Mediterranean Diet) and Lifestyles

The role of nutrition in childhood and adolescence

The role of nutrition in the elderly: healthy ageing

The role of nutrition during pregnancy

The prevention of chronic degenerative diseases through proper nutrition:

- cardiovascular diseases

- tumors

- osteoporosis

Introduction to the impact on health of incorrect nutrition

- eating disorders (obesity, anorexia, etc.)

- Alcohol abuse

The role of Food Hygiene and Nutrition Italian Service (SIAN) and National prevention plan (PNP)

Nutritional epidemiology:

- measures of association and effect;

- observational and experimental studies in  prevention of diseases diet related

- role of meta-analysis in nutritional epidemiology

Nutritional surveillance:

- epidemiological data collection (mortality, morbidity

- Food consumption behaviours

- nutritional status measurements in specific  population groups

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Teaching material is provided to students on Aulaweb.
For further in-depth knowledge:

W. Willett: Nutritional epidemiology. Oxford University Press, 2013

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARIA LUISA CRISTINA (President)

ANNA MARIA SPAGNOLO

MARINA SARTINI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start from 15  february 2021.

For the beginning of lessons and timetable please consult the following link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

NUTRITIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is composed by a written and an oral part; the written test will be carried out in the middle of the course. The oral part can be performed by presenting an essay on the topics developed in class.

Please refer to the AulaWeb specific teaching request for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on preparation of the exam will be given during the lessons and described in aulaweb.

The written exam will verify the actual acquisition of basic knowledge; the oral exam will mainly focus on the topics covered during the frontal lessons and will aim to assess not only whether the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, but also the ability to analyze and deepen the topics

Exam schedule