Overview
Examines the nutritional foundations necessary for growth, development and normal functioning in each stage of the lifecycle. Includes the socioeconomic, cultural and physiological factors affecting food intake.
Nutrition plays a critical role at every stage of life, but during periods of physiological change, such as pregnancy, infancy, adolescence, and ageing our nutritional needs shift dramatically. This paper explores how food choices, influenced by cultural, socioeconomic, and biological factors, impact growth, development, and overall health. From nourishing a growing baby to supporting healthy ageing, discover the science behind life-stage nutrition and how to optimise dietary intake for each phase of the lifecycle.
About this paper
| Paper title | Lifecycle Nutrition |
|---|---|
| Subject | Human Nutrition |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,318.20 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- HUNT 141 and 36 points
- Restriction
- HUNT 313
- Schedule C
- Science
- Contact
- human-nutrition@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View more information on the Department of Human Nutrition's website
- Teaching staff
Paper Co-ordinator: Dr Lisa Daniels
Support Staff: Tessa Scott
- Paper Structure
Lectures will cover nutritional foundations necessary for growth, development and normal functioning during the lifecycle.
In practicals students will learn to analyse research papers and apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios (case studies).
- Teaching Arrangements
Two 1-hour interactive lecturers per week for 13 weeks.
One 2-hour practical per week for 11 weeks.
- Textbooks
Recommended textbook: Through the Life Cycle (8th ed.) – Judith Brown.
Key research papers will be used in practicals. These will be available through Blackboard.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
UNIT 1 – Preconception, Pregnancy and Lactation
- Understand the importance of nutrient requirements during preconception, pregnancy and lactation in relation to normal growth and development
- Characterise food and nutritional issues during pregnancy with reference to current recommendations
- Describe human milk production, regulation, nutritional composition and benefits of breastfeeding
UNIT 2 – Infancy and Toddlers
- Understand the importance of nutrient requirements during infancy and toddlerhood in relation to normal growth and development
- Describe complementary feeding practices and understand infant feeding recommendations
- Describe atopic disease, adverse food reactions (food allergies) and the recommendations for allergy prevention in infancy.
UNIT 3 - Childhood and Adolescence
- Understand nutrition recommendations for children and adolescents and what influences energy and nutritent needs in school-aged children
- Be able to identify factors that may influence food intake in children and adolescents and to discuss potential options for improving food choice in children and adolescents
UNIT 4 – Older People
- Describe the changes in physiological function and body composition that occur with ageing and their impact on nutrition
- Understand key recommendations to diet and lifestyle for the prevention of the impacts occurring during ageing