Pre course/Background reading

1. Critical Thinking
2. Academic Writing
3. Reading Skills

Research methods

This list includes various resources that discuss the definitions, concepts, and methods taught in Research Methods. You don’t need to access all of them. However these are all excellent resources to help you better grasp general research methods and design, qualitative research methods, and statistical analyses as these are the knowledge and skills you are expected to gain during this course.

Coggan, D., D. Coggon, D. Barker, & G. Rose. (2003). Epidemiology for the Uninitiated. 5th Revised Edition. BMJ Publishing Group. (Brief but very useful and easy-to-understand resource). Can be downloaded for free from:

http://www.bmj.com/epidem/epid.html

Other references

Thomas, J.R., Nelson, J.K, and Silverman, S. (2005). Research Methods in Physical Activity. 5th Edition. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics.

BMJ - Research Collections. Easy to read and understandable chapters addressing a variety of research methods topics. http://www.bmj.com/collections/read.dtl

BMJ - Basic Epidemiology. Wonderful, easy to understand resource on epidemiology. http://www.bmj.com/collections/epidem/epid.1.dtl

Sparkes, A. (2002). Telling Tales in Sport and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Journey. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics.

O'Donoghue, T. (2006). Planning Your Qualitative Research Project. Oxford: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.

Willig, C. (2001). Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. Buckingham: Open University Press. 

Greene, J. and D’Oliveira O. (2006). Learning to Use Statistical Skills in Psychology. 3^rd Edition. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press. (really useful resource to help determine which statistical tests to use in given situations).

Brace, N., R. Kemp, and R. Snelgar. (2006). SPSS for Psychologists: A Guide to Data Analysis Using SPSS for Windows (Paperback). 3rd edition. Palgrave Macmillan.

Field, A. (2005). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. 2nd Edition. London: Sage Publications. (Note to Students: either Brace or Field books are useful resources for learning SPSS and both are not necessary to read).

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Nutrition, disease and public health

This unit reviews the links between diet and major public health issues for people of all ages and across a range of backgrounds. It will highlight the differences in requirements for optimal nutrition between these different populations and explore how these needs can be met in practice. To get the most from this unit it is essential you have read and understood some background on the basics of human nutrition

Websites

As a starting place the Food Standards Agency website (www.eatwell.gov.uk)  provides a very basic background on some of the essentials.You may find the following pages a useful introduction:

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/vitaminsandminerals/

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/fatssugarssalt/fats/

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/

Another useful website is the British Nutrition Foundation  (www.nutrition.org.uk) especially the Nutrtion Science section.

http://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritionscience

Keep in mind that although a website can provide good general background information, not all are a reliable source of nutritional information or the best research especially for your assignments.

Text books

Any of the texts listed below will provide useful background information on nutrition science and contain more specialist chapters on areas relevant to public health nutrition. It’s probably advisable to have one good reference text of your own but you might want to borrow some first to see what you like. Once you start on the course they are available on short loan  from Sue Baic, Unit Co-ordinator (use sign out sheet in my office) or from the main Arts and Social Sciences library.

Barasi ME ( 2007) Nutrition at a Glance. Blackwell Publishing. Good basic introduction.

Barasi, ME (2003) Human Nutrition: A Health Perspective, 2nd Edition London: Hodder Arnold.

Frank GC (2008) Community Nutrition: Applying Epidemiology to Contemporary Practice . 2nd Edition. Jones & Bartlett.

Gibney MJ, Margetts BM, Kearney JM and Arab L (2004) Public Health Nutrition. Blackwell Publishing.This is a recommended introductory text book to the whole  field of public health nutrition 

Mann J and Truswell SA (2007) Essentials of Human Nutrition, 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press.

The Nutrition Society (2002) Introduction to Human Nutrition.  London: The Nutrition Society.

Thomas B. (ed.) (2007) Manual of Dietetic Practice, Fourth Edition. Blackwell Publishing. Large reference text.

Thompson J and Manore M (2008) Nutrition : An Applied Approach. Second Edition. Pearson Benjamin Cummings

Thompson J, Manore M and Vaughan L (2007) The Science of Nutrition. Benjamin Cummings.

Further topic specific journal references and relevant public health nutrition reports  will be given at the lectures.

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Physical activity, disease and public health

Pre-course Reading

'At least five a week: Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health'. A report from the Chief Medical Officer. April 2004. (Can be downloaded from www.dh.gov.uk/publications).

Haskell, W.L., Lee, I., Pate, R.R., Powell, K.E., Blair, S.N., Franklin, B.A., Macera, C.A., Heath, G.W., Thompson, P.D. and Bauman, A. (2007). Physical Activity and Public Health: Updated Recommendation for Adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 39(8), 1423.

Health Survey for England 2002: The health of children and young people. The Stationery Office.2003. (Chapters 3 and 4 particularly relevant). Can be downloaded from http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/deps/doh/survey02/hcyp/hcyp.htm

Nelson, M.E., Rejeski, W.J., Blair, S.N., Duncan, P.W., Judge, J.O., King, A.C., Macera, C.A. and Castaneda-Sceppa, C. (2007). Physical Activity and Public Health in Older Adults: Recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 39(8), 1435.

Pate, R.R., Pratt, M., Blair, S.N., Haskell, W.M., Macera, C.A., Bouchard, C., et al. (1995).  Physical activity and public health: recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine.  J.A.M.A. 273: 402-7.

Background Reading

American College of Sports Medicine.  (2001).  Appropriate intervention strategies for weight loss and prevention of weight regain for adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(12),  2145-2156.

Biddle S, Cavill N, Sallis J. (1998). Policy framework for young people and health-enhancing physical activity. In: Biddle S, Sallis J, Cavill N, eds. Young and Active? Young people and health-enhancing physical activity - evidence and implications. London: Health Education Authority 3-16.

Boreham C, Riddoch C. (2003). Physical activity and health through the lifespan. In: McKenna J & Riddoch C, eds. Perspectives on Health and Exercise. Macmillan, 11-30.

Blair, S.N.  et al.,  (2001)  Active living  every day.  Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Bouchard C. (2000). Physical activity and obesity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Department of Health. (2001). National Service framework for older people. London: Department of Health.

Dose-Response Issues Concerning Physical Activity and Health: an Evidence-Based Symposium. (2001). Med. Sci. Sports. Exerc. 33 (6); Supplement.

Foresight. Tackling obesities: Future choices. Government Office for Science. October 2007. Downloadable from http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Obesity/Obesity.html. Contains many useful up to date links. Highly recommended.

Lobstein T, Baur L, Uauy R (for the International Obesity Task Force). (2004) Obesity in children and young people: A crisis in public health.Obesity Reviews 5(Suppl. 1), 4-85.

Powers, S.K. & Howley, E.T. (2001). Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance (4th ed). New York; McGraw-Hill.

Spirduso, W.W. (2005). Physical Dimensions of Aging (2nd edition). Champaign, Ill.; Leeds: Human Kinetics.

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (1996). Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta,GA; U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services.

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Determinants of Physical Activity and Eating Behaviour

Pre course reading

1. If you have no prior knowledge or training in this area start with these articles

Macintyre S. Deprivation amplification revisited; or, is it always true that poorer places have poorer access to resources for healthy diets and physical activity? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2007, 4:32

Download at http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/4/1/32

Kremers SPJ, de Bruijn G-J , Visscher TLS, van Mechelen W, de Vries N K and Brug J. Environmental influences on energy balance-related behaviors: A dual-process view. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2006, 3:9

Download at http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/3/1/9

2. For those students who have had some previous experience (those with a  Psychology or Geography background)

Maddison  R,Vander Hoorn S, Jiang Y, Ni Mhurchu C, Exeter D, Dorey, E, Bullen C, Utter J, Schaaf D, Turley M. The environment and physical activity: The influence of psychosocial, perceived and built environmental factors. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:19

Download at  http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/pdf/1479-5868-6-19.pdf

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