| CODE | HPN3004 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Nutrition and Dietary Planning for Individual Needs (1) | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provokes reflection and greater understanding of the biological, physical, social, and behavioural factors, as well as life experiences which influence nutrition and health outcomes throughout the lifespan. It provides a general overview of the nutritional needs of individuals during different stages by adopting a life-course approach. Furthermore, it highlights the latest research and policy development in the area applicable to all lifestages. It uses an evidence-based approach to assess the impact of nutrition across life stages and ways to improve population health by improving nutrition. The design of nutrition and health interventions which integrate various influences on health and nutritional status and food behaviours is also discussed. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit looks in depth at the nutritional needs of individuals at various stages of the life-cycle, focusing on the specific nutrient priorities for each population group. The long-term effects of poor selection of foodstuffs and poor eating habits are discussed. Factors that influence food selection and eating patterns at each stage of the life cycle are highlighted. The development and use of various food models forming the basis of healthy eating practices and modification of current eating patterns in line with dietary goals and dietary guidelines are also discussed. Meals for special diets and situations and for different stages throughout the life-cycle are planned and evaluated. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain how nutrition before pregnancy affects maternal health and the growth and development of the fetus; - Describe the physiological and sociological adjustments that occur during all stages of the life-cycle and how these influence energy and other nutrient needs; - Discuss special nutrition issues that occur at different periods of the life-cycle; - Identify problem nutrients during each developmental period and how risk of deficiencies can be reduced; - Outline the principles of meal planning and describe the applicability of dietary goals, dietary guidelines and dietary recommendations throughout the life-cycle. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss, contrast, and evaluate different week/day menus keeping in mind the role of nutrition and health within the complex processes of pregnancy, lactation, child development, growth and aging; - Evaluate and modify as necessary dietary regimes for individuals at each stage of development; - Apply knowledge of nutritional requirements for each age group to different common everyday family scenarios to meet the family members' different dietary needs; - Use the life course framework to design effective nutrition initiatives to improve population health within different settings. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department (2015). The National Breastfeeding Policy and Action Plan 2015-2020. Msida. Available at https://health.gov.mt/en/Documents/National-Health.../BF_EN.pdf - Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate (2014). Food and Nutrition Policy and Action Plan for Malta. 2015 - 2020 Malta: Parliamentary Secretariat for Health. Available at https://health.gov.mt/en/Documents/National-Health-Strategies/FNAP_EN.pdf - Ministry for Education & Employment (2015). A Whole School Approach to a Healthy Lifestyle: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Policy. Floriana [online] Available at https://education.gov.mt/en/resources/News/Documents/Healthy%20Eating%20and%20Physical%20Activity%20Policy.pdf - Ministry of Education, Youth & Employment (2007). Healthy Eating Lifestyle Plan. Floriana: Education Division [online] Available at http://education.gov.mt/en/resources/documents/policy%20documents/healty%20eating%20lifestyle%20plan.pdf - WHO (2015). The Minsk Declaration. European Ministerial Conference on the Life-course Approach in the Context of Health 2020. Minsk: Belarus. Supplementary Readings: - Camilleri, I. (2011). School Food Environments In Maltese Secondary Schools: Policies And Practices. Unpublished B. Ed. Hons. Dissertation, University of Malta. - WHO (2013). Health 2020. A European policy framework and strategy for the 21st century. Denmark: WHO Regional Office. - WHO (2013). Vienna Declaration on Nutrition and Noncommunicable Diseases in the Context of Health 2020. WHO European Ministerial Conference on Nutrition and Noncommunicable Diseases in the Context of Health 2020. Vienna. Austria. - WHO (2013). Marketing of foods high in fat, salt and sugar to children: update 2012鈥�2013. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe. [online] Available at http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/191125/e96859.pdf - WHO (2006). A tool for the development of school nutrition programmes in the European Region Programme for Nutrition and Food Security WHO Regional Office for Europe. - WHO (2004). Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.Geneva. - WHO (2000). CINDI dietary guide. Denmark: WHO Regional Office for Europe. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Lorraine Dimech Magrin |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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