Course content

The course will provide an empirical overview of existing up-to-date knowledge about the treatment of obesity in adults. Different dietary approaches, physical activity programs and behavioral approaches, their mechanisms of action and practical implementation, will also be presented and compared. Experiences with treatment of obesity will be highlighted, and barriers and individuals' different presumptions for treatment will be emphasized. Interindividual response to exercise in the context of weight loss will be highlighted, and potential mechanisms that mediate such differences will be discussed. How treatment affects weight reduction will be discussed from a nutritional perspective, as well as in relation to physical activity. Behavioral therapy and communication in the management of obesity will be highlighted from an adult's point of view, and motivation for change will be discussed. It will also include emphasizing the challenge of maintaining weight reduction after conservative treatment, highlighting the predictors of success as well as characteristics of those who succeed in achieving long-term weight reduction.

Learning outcome

After completing and passing the course KLH3103, the student must have achieved the following:

Knowledge:

• about the most important therapeutic diets in obesity treatment, their explanation and effectiveness
• gained an understanding of how diet, exercise and behavioral therapy can be used in the treatment of obesity in adults
• about the importance diet plays in relation to weight loss and be aware of challenges and dilemmas linked to popular diets about the impact different exercise programs have on weight loss and body composition

Skills:

• about the various conservative treatment options for obesity and experiences and results from treatment
• in understanding patients' various prerequisites and barriers to starting, implementing and maintaining changes by participating in treatment services
• in understanding the significance of challenges and dilemmas related to treatment and maintenance of treatment
• to know the background for how to communicate with patients with different conditions in obesity treatment
• in how diet, exercise and behavioral therapy can be used in the treatment of obesity in adults understand the challenges of maintaining weight loss after conservative treatment

General competence:

• about the various predictors of success and characteristics of those who succeed in maintaining weight loss in the long term after conservative obesity treatment
• on the concept of inter-individual response to training and understanding the potential mechanisms underlying the disparities associated with this
• in understanding of the role that exercise alone and exercise combined with diet have on weight loss

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, discussions, practice, guidance and essay.

If few students register for the course, learning activities can be changed.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises/activities
• Attendance to lectures

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Equivalent to admission to the master's programme in clinical health science.

Required previous knowledge

KLH3101 or MDV6015

Course materials

Is announced at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions