Unit information: Advanced Nutrition and Behaviour in 2017/18

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	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. Topics covered relate to 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 is the interplay of biological, psychological and social processes influencing behaviour.

The aims of this unit are to provide a broad understanding of major topics in Nutrition and Behaviour, and to develop an appreciation of contemporary issues and emerging research in this field.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, a student will be able to:

1. Identify key drivers of eating behaviour (appetite and food choice).
2. Discuss the impact of diet on psychological functioning, and the contribution of psychology to this field.
3. Integrate ideas from different areas of psychology in nutrition and behaviour.
4. Appraise scientific methods used in the field of nutrition and behaviour.
5. Evaluate relevant contemporary research findings and theories.

Teaching Information

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment Information

3-hour examination to include a seen component (75%) and multiple-choice (25%).

Reading and References

Essential - None

Recommended

Blundell, J. E. & Bellisle, F. (Eds.) (2013). Satiation, satiety and the control of food intake: Theory and practice. Oxford, UK: Woodhead Publishing.

Capaldi, E. D. (1996). Why we eat what we eat: The psychology of eating. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Frayn, K. N. (2010). Metabolic regulation: A human perspective. Wiley: Chichester. Garrow, J. S. (Ed.) (2000). Human nutrition and dietetics. (10^th ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Hetherington, M. M. (Ed.) (2001). Food craving and addiction. Leatherhead, UK: Leatherhead Publishing.

James, J. E. (1997). Understanding caffeine: A biobehavioural analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Kanarek, R. B. & Marks-Kaufman, R. (1991). Nutrition and behaviour: New perspectives. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Lask, B. & Bryant-Waugh, R. (Eds.) (2000). Anorexia nervosa and related eating disorders in childhood and adolescence. (2^nd ed.). Hove, UK: Psychology Press.

Logue, A. W. (1991). The psychology of eating and drinking: An introduction. (2^nd ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman.

Mela, D. J. & Rogers, P. J. (1998). Food, eating and obesity: The psychobiological basis of appetite and weight control. London: Chapman and Hall.

Additional recommended and further reading will be made available through Blackboard