Challenging obesity
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| 6 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown.
Summary
What is obesity? Why is it becoming a problem of epidemic proportions? What are the consequences of inactivity? This 20-week course focuses on the challenges raised by global increases in human obesity, beginning with an overview of these issues followed by an examination of biological, psychological and social aspects of eating behaviour, exercise and their implications for overall energy balance. You’ll examine different strategies for weight control, from diet and exercise to more medically oriented options including surgery and drug treatment. You’ll also consider how governments, and others, might develop policies that prevent the continuing escalation of the obesity epidemic.
Course content
This multidisciplinary course examines how underlying biology, together with social influences, can lead to particular behaviours that cause an individual to increase their body weight. One of the greatest challenges in understanding obesity is why some individuals are so much heavier than others. Here you’ll look at the contributions from genetics, development, and the environments in which the obese individual lives. You will also look at the complex way that these different components may interact. Case reports are used to illustrate the spectrum of individuals diagnosed as obese and the options available for treatment and prevention. The course concludes with a consideration of policy options that might halt the current trend of increasing levels of obesity in populations worldwide.
This course will appeal to you if you’re a patient, health care worker, work in a profession allied to medicine, or just have a general interest in the subject.
Entry
You aren’t expected to have any knowledge of obesity, but you should be able to read and understand written English of a style and complexity characteristic of a professional magazine or quality newspaper.. If you have not studied up to GCSE level fairly recently, you should expect to spend longer on the course materials.
It is essential that you establish whether or not your background and experience give you a sound basis on which to tackle the course, since students who are appropriately prepared have the best chance of completing their studies successfully. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you to progress to courses at Level 2.
The package Are you ready for science study? offers an interactive quiz to help you decide whether you already have the recommended background knowledge or experience to start the course or whether you should consider first studying an Openings course.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
The course focuses on obesity from a global perspective and includes case reports on individuals from different ethnic groups, genders and ages. Some of the discussions of treatment will be from a predominantly western perspective.
Preparatory work
If you have not studied formally for some time, we suggest you consider taking an Openings course, such as Understanding health (Y158), before starting SDK122. If you don’t already have the necessary computing and internet skills, we recommend you study sections three and four of the SAFARI materials, provided by the OU Library, before you begin your study of SDK122. As an alternative you may wish to take one of the many courses available at your local night school or college.
If you particularly wish to improve your study skills you’re strongly advised to read The Sciences Good Study Guide (1997) by A. Northedge, J. Thomas, A. Lane and A. Peasgood, which can be purchased from www.ouw.co.uk. Further advice is available from the Learning with the OU website.
Qualifications
SDK122 is an optional course in our:
- Certificate in Health Sciences (C78)
- Foundation Degree in Paramedic Sciences (G11)
- Foundation Degree in Health Sciences (G12)
- Foundation Degree in Operating Department Practice (G19)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Health Sciences (E49)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Sciences (E52)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Operating Department Practice (E58)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
If you have severely impaired sight or manual dexterity you may find using the web and the multimedia resources challenging. All electronic or multimedia aspects of the course materials are accessible, allowing navigation through the use of keyboard and short cut keys. Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The written course material is available in comb binding. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, make sure that you have our booklet Meeting your needs. You can obtain a copy by contacting our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. We provide a range of support services for individual needs but some of these may take several months to arrange. Please contact us for advice if you have concerns about taking this course, or the support that could be provided.
Course materials
What's included
One main text, a DVD-ROM, a course guide, and other supporting materials delivered through the dedicated course website.
You will need
You will also need a simple calculator.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
You can telephone or email a study adviser, who will be able to help you with academic questions to do with the course and the assessment. There will also be an online discussion forum that you can use to get in touch with study advisers and other students.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
There will be some formative assessment to enable you to monitor your progress throughout the course.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2009. We expect it to be available once a year, in November.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care and Science.
Study explained
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- Study explained
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