Unit information: Advanced Nutrition and Behaviour in 2015/16

Unit name	Advanced Nutrition and Behaviour
Unit code	PSYCM0049
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Rogers
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Level 6 Psychology Students must not have taken PSYC31052
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The unit examines the inter-relationships between nutrition and behaviour and their implications for health and psychological well-being. Major topics covered are appetite and weight control (including obesity and dieting); eating disorders; food preferences; dietary influences on mood and cognitive function; caffeine psychopharmacology; and food craving and "addiction". An underlying theme to these topics is the interplay of biological, psychological and social processes influencing behaviour.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Key expected outcomes of the course are a critical understanding of eating behaviour (appetite and food choice) and the impact of diet on psychological functioning, and recognition of the contribution of psychology to this field. Related to this is an appreciation of the value of integrating ideas from different areas of psychology. Students will gain knowledge of the scientific methods used in the field of nutrition and behaviour, and will develop the ability to evaluate relevant contemporary research findings and theories. For students with little or no background in physiology or biology some early preparatory reading (e.g., Frayn, 1996) would be useful. By the end of the unit students will have demonstrated independent study informed by primary sources and knowledge at the forefront of the discipline, and show Master’s level ability in terms of critical insight, depth of knowledge, independent thought and the ability to propose new hypotheses.

Teaching Information

This unit comprises 18 x 50 minute lectures and 2 x 50 minute tutorials

Assessment Information

Examination: 1 x 3 hour exam to include a seen examination component and MCQ examination
Final Grade: based on 25% MCQ and 75% seen exam

Reading and References

• Capaldi, E. D. (1996). Why we eat what we eat: The psychology of eating. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. [Arts and Social Sciences Library TX355 WHY, 1 copy]
• Frayn, K. N. (2010). Metabolic regulation: a human perspective. Wiley: Chichester. [Arts & Social Sciences Library, QP171FRA, and Medical Library D6f FRA, also available via Online access.]
• Garrow, J.S. (ed.) (2000). Human nutrition and dietetics, 10th edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. [Medical Library D8d HUM, 2 copies; 9th edition, 5 copies] Hetherington, M. M. (Ed.) (2001). Food craving and addiction. Leatherhead: Leatherhead Publishing. [Arts & Social Sciences Library RC552.C65 FOO, 2 copies]
• James, J.E. (1997). Understanding Caffeine: A biobehavioural analysis. Thousand Oaks CA.: Sage. [Arts & Social Sciences Library QP801.C24 JAM, 2 copies]
• Kanarek, R.B. and Marks-Kaufman, R. (1991). Nutrition and behaviour: New perspectives. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. [Arts & Social Sciences Library QP141 KAN, 2 copies?]
• Lask, B. & Bryant-Waugh, R. (Eds.) (2000). Anorexia nervosa and related eating disorders in childhood and adolescence, 2nd edition. Hove UK: Psychology Press. [Arts & Social Sciences Library, RC552.A5 ANO 2 copies]
• Logue, A.W. (1991). The psychology of eating and drinking: An introduction, 2nd edition. New York: W. H. Freeman. [Medical Library D8d2 LOG, 1 copy; Continuing Education Library HHP Log, 1 copy]
• Mela, D.J. & Rogers, P.J. (1998). Food, eating and obesity: The psychobiological basis of appetite and weight control. London: Chapman and Hall. [Arts & Social Sciences Library RC62A MEL, 5 copies]
• Blundell, J. E. and Bellisle, F. (Eds.) (2013). Satiation, satiety and the control of food intake: theory and practice. Oxford : Woodhead Publishing. [Arts & Social Sciences Library, QP136SAT, also available via Online access.]

NOTE: Other reviews will be recommended for the core topics covered in this unit.