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Nutrition 562: Spring 2010
Nutrition and Chronic Disease

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Assignments 

Provide a Self-Assessment - Submit on Catalyst

Objectives:

  • Inform your instructor of your goals for the course
  • Provide insight into your learning style
  • Set personal objectives on the class topics. 

Deliverable

Complete self-assessment on line

Due

4/1

Grade

Cr/No Cr

Method of Submission

Catalyst Web-Q: Link

Effort

Individual

Diet Assessment Assignment

Objective:

  • Report dietary intake using one of two diet assessment tools
  • Relate the reported strengths and weaknesses of the tool you used to your experience.

Deliverables

Diet Assessment (either a three day food record or a FFQ)

Summary comparing your experience with the reported strengths and weaknesses of the tool. (1/2 page max - bulleted comments fine)

Due

4/6

Grade

Cr/No Cr

Method of Submission

Catalyst Drop Box: Link

Effort

Individual

Resources

See Catalyst

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Exams: 

Objectives:

  • Demonstrate comprehension, analysis and synthesis of course topics

Deliverables

There will be three take home, short answer exams. Students are required to complete two of the exams thus the student has the option of dropping one exam or not taking the last exam.

Due

4/22; 5/11; 6/1

Grade

40% (20% per exam, 2 highest exams)

Method of Submission

Catalyst Drop Box: Link

Effort

Individual

Resources

See Catalyst
Sample exam
Rubric for Exams

 

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Consensus Presentations:

Students will participate in one team consensus presentation.

 

There are four discussion topics this quarter.  Each addresses an area of conflicting and/or evolving evidence on the relationship between nutrition and chronic disease.  

 

Project goal:  The goal of the presentation is to bring the class to consensus.  Should stronger guidelines, policies or regulations be developed or strengthened to reduce the risk of this chronic disease related to this nutrient or behavior? 

 

Team presentation:  

Objectives:  See below

 

Deliverables

Select two research articles on the topic to represent a 'pro' and 'con' position
 

Post the articles to the class E-Post site at least one week prior to the presentation
 

Provide leading questions to the threaded discussion regarding these articles
 

Presentation to the class

PowerPoint slides
Bibliography
Lead a discussion
Bring the class to consensus
 

Due

4/29 - Wt loss
5/13 - CVD (either soy or garlic)
5/25 - Folate and Cancer
6/3 - Alcohol

Grade

25%

Effort

Team Project

Time

Total - 75 minutes;

   Presentation - 45 minutes;

   Consensus discussion - 30 minutes

Resources

 
Element A
Assessment
Methods		 Objectives A:
  • Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three main methods of diet assessment (24 hour recall, food records, or food frequency questionnaire) for this nutrient.  Do not review the basics on the method.  Focus on the issues specific to this nutrient or food.
  • Provide a summary statement of the most suitable method.
  • Describe:

o        the validity and reliability of the method for this nutrient, food or behavior

o        the interindividual and intraindividual variability that informs the number of days necessary to conduct valid food records

o        issues that may be unique to the assessment of this nutrient, food or behavior
Element B
Pro 		Objectives B:

  • Summarize evidence that warrants the development of new policies that will impact the intake of this nutrient, food or behavior to reduce the incidence or prevalence of this chronic disease.  (The 'pro' side of the statement)

  •  Highlight the most relevant research.  Note the level of evidence for on the PowerPoint slides.  Comment on the overall level of evidence.
Element C:
Con

Objectives C:

  • Summarize evidence that the research is flawed or inadequate to warrant the development of new policies that will impact the intake of this nutrient, food or behavior to reduce the incidence or prevalence of chronic disease.  (The 'con' side of the statement)

  • Highlight the most relevant research.  Note the level of evidence for on the PowerPoint slides.  Comment on the overall level of evidence.

Element D:
Consensus

Objectives D:

Sample Presentation

Note the sample presentation had originally consisted of 45-50 slides.  It has been condensed to illustrate how the students organized their presentation and approached the consensus process.  Though they chose to use short scenarios to guide the small group discussions you may use other options that support your topic.

PowerPoint slides and outline of discussion presentation

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Research Paper on consensus topic:  Submit on Catalyst

Objective:

  • Demonstrate the ability to summarize the research on the consensus topic

  • Describe the level of evidence for the research cited and base conclusions on the quality of this evidence.

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of diet assessment methods on this topic

  • Comment on this challenge - have we been following ‘evidence’ based on flawed assessments and if so, how do we reapproach the nutrient – disease hypotheses?

  • Summarize the final class consensus

  • Reflect on where your learning occurred

Deliverable

Research Paper on consensus topic
Bibliography

Due

4/30 - Wt loss
5/17 - CVD (either soy or garlic)
5/28 - Folate and Cancer
6/3 - Alcohol

Grade

25%

Method of Submission

Catalyst Drop Box: Link

Effort

Individual

Resources

See Catalyst

Format

8-10 pages; double-spaced; 1 inch margins; 12 point font

 

Bibliography

  • Follow the Manual of Style

  • Included in the 8-10 page limit

  • The bibliography may be single-spaced.

Cover sheet with your name; do not provide your name on each page - this allows for grading 'blind'.

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Participation in the class discussions: 

Objectives

  • Contribute to the class discussions

  • Contribute to the development of a consensus

  • Share insight into your concepts developed from the readings

  • Contribute to peer learning

Deliverables

Review the readings for each class topic and the consensus topics prior to the class.

 

Comments added to the threaded discussion on the class E-Post prior to each presentation

 

Participation in the consensus discussion

 

Due

E-Post comments due at least 2 days prior to the presentation

Grade

10% total

Method of Submission

Catalyst E-Post; In class discussion

Effort

Individual

 

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 Discussion topics:

Discuss your groups approach with the instructor at least two weeks prior to your presentation. 

  • Weight Team: Evidence demonstrates one superior approach to long term weight loss (loss sustained to at least one year). (Contrast two dietary approaches to weight loss and present evidence on which one is superior for sustained weight loss to one year.  Choose diets, such as low carbohydrate, low fat, very-low calorie diet, etc. Exclude bariatric surgery.)

Team members:

  • CVD Team: Routine supplementation with 'x' reduces CVD risk. The presentation must include evidence on the dose of supplementation.

'x' = The team will decide which intervention will be used in this discussion.  The options are vitamin D, soy or garlic.

 

Team members:

  • Folate/Cancer Team: The evidence on the benefit of fortification of food with folate is stronger than the evidence of harm and thus justifies our current public health policies.

Team members:

  • Alcohol Team: Moderate alcohol consumption is protective against CVD and therefore is beneficial for longevity.  (Any potential policy would not be considered appropriate for individuals with a genetic predisposition to abuse.)

Team members: 

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Last Updated:
12/13/10

    Contact the instructor at: Adam Drewnowski