Obesity and Weight Management MSc

Module Aims
Develop a critical understanding and knowledge of adipose tissue, fat deposition and storage, and human energy balance.

Module Content

• The histology and physiology of the adipocyte and adipose tissue.
• Regional distribution of body fat: sex-specific characteristics of subcutaneous, visceral and gluteo-femoral adiposity. The role of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ and its role in health and disease.
• Adipose tissue and inter-organ communication.
• Appetite regulation and the role of adipose tissue, the brain, gastrointestinal tract and other organs and tissues (e.g. liver and skeletal muscle) in the complex neuro-endocrine regulation of food intake, energy expenditure and body composition.
• Introduction to the assessment of energy intake, energy expenditure and body composition and their application in clinical weight management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical knowledge of adipose tissue biology and the regulation of energy homeostasis and body composition through the integrated actions of various organs and tissues.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the methods used to assess human body composition, energy intake and energy expenditure and knowledge of the application of these methods in the setting of clinical weight management.

Module Aims
To critically explore obesity as a chronic disease, its epidemiology and the global burden of obesity, and obesity-related comorbidities in populations.

Module Content

• The strengths and limitations of body mass index and the definition of obesity.
• Justification for classifying obesity as a disease.
• Global trends in obesity, its relationship to population health and differences in the identification of obesity in different ethnic populations.
• Abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome and comorbidity, including obesity and cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and ectopic lipid.
• Obesity assessment in children and adults.
• Obesity phenotypes: overall, central and peripheral obesity.
• Ectopic fat and health.
• The economic and societal impact of obesity on a multi-level including regional, national and international levels.
• The primary prevention of obesity and the complex systems approach.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the epidemiology and global burden of obesity, and enhanced skills in the clinical assessment and staging of individuals living with obesity.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the economic and societal impact of obesity and the wider determinants of weight gain and obesity that operate across the life course, including environmental, socioeconomic, cultural and behavioural determinants in the context of the global burden of obesity.

Module Aims
To develop a critical understanding of the medical, genetic, and environmental factors that can cause weight gain and obesity.

Module Content

• Genes (e.g. FTO, LEP/POMC/MC4, PPAR-gamma ) and genetic conditions associated with obesity and obesity phenotypes (e.g. Bardet-Biedel syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome).
• Epigenetics and gene-environment interactions in relation to obesity.
• Endocrine disorders and other conditions predisposing to weight gain and obesity (e.g. Cushing Syndrome, hypothyroidism and pregnancy).
• Drugs and their association with weight gain, including glucocorticoids, oral contraceptives and psychotropic agents.
• Environmental endocrine disruptors and other biological agents (e.g. viruses) and obesity.
• The gut microbiota

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of genetics, inherited conditions and gene-environment interactions linked with weight gain and obesity.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of selected medical conditions, drugs and other biological factors in relation to weight gain and obesity.

Module Aims
To enhance the knowledge and clinical skills required to effectively evaluate and treat obesity with emphasis on personalised care, nutrition, physical activity and behavioural modification.

Module Content

• Analysis of specific obesity treatment guidelines.
• Behaviour change theories and models and the clinical evaluation of the patient living with obesity to understand the obstacles to changes in behaviour and the implementation of specific strategies of behavioural modification.
• Psychological strategies to promote behaviour change, including cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing.
• Key concepts in human nutrition (e.g. glycaemic index and glycaemic load).
• Hydration and obesity.
• The evidence for nutritional interventions in personalised weight management and their application in clinical practice, including appraisal of selected and specific dietary approaches such as low-fat, low-carbohydrate and plant-based diets.
• Appraisal of physical activity interventions and increased energy expenditure in the personalised management of obesity, including the effect of different exercise programmes on BMI, adiposity, fat distribution and obesity-related risk factors.
• Critically appraising the role and responsibilities of the multi-disciplinary team in the implementation and delivery of personalised weight management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding and application of physical activity, nutritional and behavioural interventions in the context of obesity and the personalised care of the person living with obesity.
2. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the need to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and to use appropriate language, compassion and ethical behaviour when communicating with patients and their families who are living with obesity.

Module Aims
To enhance the knowledge and clinical skills required to effectively evaluate and treat obesity with emphasis on personalised care, pharmacotherapy and new and emerging therapies.

Module Content

• Analysis of specific guidelines for obesity pharmacotherapy.
• The role and clinical applicability of medical therapies in weight management.
• The pharmacological effects, mechanism of action, efficacy and adverse events associated with licensed medical therapies used in weight management and evaluation of the evidence.
• Unlicensed therapies used in weight management, their pharmacological properties, evidence regarding their use, controversies and legalities of use, and the associated adverse effects.
• Previously licensed/used medical therapies, their pharmacology and reasons for withdrawal with an emphasis upon pharmacovigilance and post marketing surveillance.
• The role of emerging therapies in weight management with emphasis upon the physiological basis for potential therapies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of medical therapies used in the clinical treatment of obesity and application of this understanding to the personalised care of the person living with obesity.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of past, current, new and emerging therapies for weight management and the role of pharmacovigilance in evaluating their adverse effects.

Module Aims
To enhance the knowledge and clinical skills required to effectively evaluate and treat obesity with personalised care and surgery, and to manage the post-bariatric surgery patient.

Module Content

• Analysis of specific obesity treatment guidelines.
• Surgical approaches involved in the management of weight related disorders and evaluation of the evidence.
• Short and long-term risks associated with surgical interventions in weight management.
• The identification of patients for bariatric procedures and the role of the multi-disciplinary team.
• The critical role of the multi-disciplinary team in the management of the patient with obesity before and after bariatric surgery, including the management of post-operative nutrition and physical activity.
• The health economics of bariatric procedures and medical therapies.
• An understanding and appreciation of the need for the reversal of certain bariatric procedures. An appreciation of the health economics of bariatric procedures as well as medical therapies.
• An understanding and appreciation of the need for the reversal of certain bariatric procedures.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of surgical interventions used in the clinical treatment of obesity and application of this understanding to the personalised pre- and post-surgical care of the person living with obesity.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the health economic evaluation of surgical and medical interventions for obesity.

Module Aims
To enhance knowledge and understanding of evidence-based practice and policy and to prepare students to undertake an independent research-based project.

Module Content

• Quantitative Studies
• Research and Epidemiology
• Confounding, Bias and Causality
• Statistical Analysis Interpretation
• Interpreting the Evidence
• Meta-analysis and Systematic Reviews
• Qualitative Studies and Mixed Methods Research
• Appraising, Grading, Synthesising, Summarising and Interpreting Studies
• Diagnosis, Audit and Quality Improvement,
• Preparing a Research Proposal: Research Committees, Consent, Ethics, Probity and Literature Review

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically analyse and interpret research to assess its application to delivery/service development.
2. Select and apply different methodological approaches and tools to answer research questions in the chosen field of study.

Module Aims

• To formulate the research question that you seek to answer.
• To develop an ability to critically evaluate areas of professional practice.
• To critically appraise specific areas of clinical, research and organisational practice.
• To develop skills in independent research and study.
• To develop skills relevant to scientific publications.

Module Content
The module will depend on the creation of a piece of work based upon a specific public health-related project relevant to the student’s practice. This project may comprise:

• Systematic literature review and appraisal of the evidence.
• Audit of non-patient data/organisational audit.
• Review and implementation of evidence-based practice.
• Literature review and qualitative or quantitative research proposal.
• Case(s)-based and quality of service review with critical appraisal.
• Case report, review of literature and organisational assessment.
• Secondary data analysis

Learning Outcomes

1. Design and undertake a research and development project related to obesity and weight management in order to produce an extensive piece of literature which may be suitable for peer-reviewed publication.
2. Critically evaluate practice and suggest improvements or change in an obesity and weight management setting.
3. Incorporate knowledge of the research process in developing obesity and weight management services appropriately.