Unit information: Physical Activity , Disease and Public Health in 2021/22

Unit name	Physical Activity , Disease and Public Health
Unit code	PHEDM4013
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Armstrong
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will critically review the role of inactivity in the aetiology of disease and the role of physical activity in the prevention and management of disease, highlighting the different roles of exercise at different life stages. The unit will review key issues in identifying the optimal physical activity recommendation for public health, enabling students to understand the links between physical activity and health for people of all ages and across a range of lifestyles and backgrounds.

To develop understanding of:

1. The role of physical activity and inactivity in the aetiology of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer and mental health problems.
2. The biological mechanisms through which physical activity may operate to prevent chronic disease.
3. Physical activity in the maintenance of health and physical function through the lifespan and the strategies which may be employed to help optimise physical activity for health.
4. The role of physical activity in the management of chronic disease.
5. How to communicate scientific content critically to a lay audience.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Be familiar with and able to critically appraise the theory and evidence base for physical activity in the aetiology of chronic disease, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, osteoporosis and mental disorders.
2. Understand the key issues involved in optimising health at different life stages and transitions including childhood and adolescence, middle age and older age and in groups such as ethnic populations.
3. To develop the skills necessary to design and evaluate strategies which are effective in optimising physical activity for health within populations.
4. To develop science communication skills required for communicating scientific content critically to a lay audience.

Teaching Information

The unit will be delivered through blended learning involving a combination of lectures, group discussion and self-directed exercises.

Assessment Information

Part 1: 1500-word critical review for a lay audience (50%; covers ILO 1,3,4).

Part 2: A one-page infographic to present the evidence for the role of physical activity in the prevention and/or management of a chronic disease and a 1000-word summary (50%; covers ILO 1,2,4).

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHEDM4013).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.