Strategies in Weight Control addresses the strategies used to assist in reversing the obesity epidemic. Students gain an understanding of the trends of obesity, risk factors associated with being overweight, and chronic disease patterns. Further, strategies of proper weight management are explored on an individual and societal level, looking at current diet trends and evaluating their health implications.

In this course, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the role of energy metabolism in weight maintenance.
• Learn how the brain, gut, fat cells, and genetics interact to regulate weight.
• Expand upon the importance of and recommendations for diet and physical activity in weight management, evaluating the role of each independently.
• Develop the ability to identify both fad diets and supplements to understand the physiologic reasons these diets should be avoided.
• Identify the role of both weight loss drugs and surgeries.
• Develop an understanding of why weight management is important through exploration of the dangers at both ends of the weight spectrum, and how to institute weight management in a meaningful fashion.

Course objectives:

• Describe overweight/obesity trends in the United States and assessment approaches in weight management.
• Explain metabolic and physiological aspects of weight management and the role of energy nutrients in body weight.
• Assess dieting trends and strategies for regulating eating behavior and effectiveness of strategies used.
• Develop weight management programs appropriate for specific audiences.
• Analyze intervention strategies for both eating disorders and sports that involve weight control requirements for participants.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to weight management and assessment methods
• Energy metabolism and weight management
• Regulators of eating behavior and body weight
• The role of physical activity in weight management
• A healthy diet for weight management
• Beyond diet and exercise: Fads, surgery, drugs and supplements
• Eating disorders and disordered eating
• Encouraging lifestyle modifications

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