Nutrition and Medicine

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Author:

Anastassios G. Pittas, Joel Mason, Katherine Tucker, Kristy Hendricks, Margo Woods

Subject:

Science and Technology

Institution Name:

Tufts School of Medicine

Collection:

Tufts University OpenCourseWare

Grade Level:

Post-secondary

Abstract:

Only 25% of US medical schools have a required nutrition course. Tufts provides such a course with 25 hours of instruction as lectures and small group activities. The course spans the theoretical to the clinical aspects of nutrition. The student learns to obtain information and knowledge, develop the ability to interpret and evaluate current nutrition research, and develop critical thinking skills on the use of nutrition in medical care. Small group assignments include: making a personal dietary assessment, trying a dietary change based on the DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension), and interviewing a subject to obtain information on current eating patterns (with evaluation of this intake and dietary recommendations developed as a report). The "4 Messages" from the DASH diet are used as the overall unifying nutrition messages for the general US population and those at risk or with problems of hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, or type 2 diabetes. Also addressed is the the role of exercise and the identification of behavioral skills from the perspective of the physician and the patient in order to successfully achieve a change in lifestyle for better health.

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Full Course, Lecture Notes, Other

Media Format:

Graphics/Photos, Other, Text/HTML

Conditions of Use:

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0