Curricular Unit:			Code:
Nutritional Status Assessment I			845AEN1
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
2	Undergraduate	Nutrition Sciences	4 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
		Portuguese/English	52
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
OA1 - Acquire knowledge and skills required for anthropometric, body composition and biochemical evaluation of healthy populations’. OA2 - Acquire skills required for the assessment of nutritional status that besides implying the concepts and techniques, imply the accuracy and the correct personal conduct inherent to biological measures in humans. OA3 - To accurately and reliably carry out nutritional status assessment. OA4 - Develop a critical spirit and open to change and also develop the ability to work in group.
Syllabus:
CP1 - Anthropometry: a. Use and interpretation of anthropometric indicators: normality vs. deviations from normality, its biological significance and association with health; b. Utility, advantages and limitations of anthropometry in the evaluation of nutritional status; c. Anthropometric indicators in subgroups of the population: adults, children (growth curves) and pregnant women. CP2 - Body composition evaluation - two, three and four compartments model: a. Anthropometry; b. Other methods of evaluation of body composition such as DEXA and bioimpedance; c. Utility, advantages and limitations of different models and methods. CP3 - Biochemical evaluation: a. Biochemical indicators of nutritional status; b. Biochemical indicators for micronutrients. CP4 - Group work.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
CP1 - Anthropometry. Aims to achieve all OA. CP2 - Body composition evaluation. Aims to achieve all OA. CP3 - Biochemical evaluation. Aims to achieve all OA. CP4 - Group work. Aims to achieve all OA.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
M1 - Use of the e-learning platform to store educational material available to students. M2 - The material made available will serve as support for studies based on problems that will be introduced as a teaching-learning tool. M3 - Expository method in theoretical classes. M4 - Demonstrative and interrogative method in practical classes. M5 - Application of group nutritional assessment techniques and analysis of student performance. Evaluation: Theoretical component (80% of the final grade): • 2 summative assessment tests, both weighing 35% of the final grade; • Group work weighing 10% of the final grade; • Final grade average must be 9.5 or more. Practical component (20% of the final grade): • One practical assessment test; • Final grade average must be 9.5 or more. The minimum percentage of classes' attendance is defined by Pedagogical Regulation.
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
M1 - Use of the e-learning platform to store educational material available to students. To pursuit all OA. M2 - The material made available will serve as support for studies based on problems that will be introduced as a teaching-learning tool. To pursuit all OA. M3 - Expository method in theoretical classes. To pursuit all OA. M4 - Demonstrative and interrogative method in practical classes. To pursuit all OA. M5 - Application of group nutritional assessment techniques and analysis of student performance. To pursuit all OA. A. Theoretical classes A1. Description: Exposition, in the form of “lectures”, of the syllabus based on the current scientific literature. Critical thinking by students is encouraged, by asking questions, as well as the reasoned expression of their opinions. A2. Objective: To provide information and scientific knowledge for the development of the curricular unit's competences. The application of the teaching methodologies adopted for the theoretical component aims at the acquisition and consolidation of knowledge in the technical-scientific domain of the curricular unit, the improvement of the ability to apply the concepts to the resolution of practical problems and the student's orientation towards autonomous learning. B. Practical classes B1. Description: Interpretation and application of nutritional status assessment techniques in a group and individually. B2. Objective: To develop practical learning, through the assessment of the nutritional status of healthy individuals, taking into account the internationally recommended indicators and techniques. Encourage the critical analysis of results supported by current scientific literature. Stimulate self-learning habits and develop the spirit of group / team work. In this way, the interconnection and complementarity between the components of this curricular unit provide an adjusted balance between theoretical principles and their practical application, allowing the integrated development of skills and competences in the area of Nutritional Status Assessment. The approach of the syllabus, articulating moments of structured intervention by the teacher with periods of appreciation of students around the issues under study and, of individual work, intends to emphasize the fact that the development of skills and competences is a holistic and continuous process of learning with a strong contribution of commitment and personal reflection. In addition to the planned contact hours, the learning process can be guided by the teachers during their appointment hours, or using institutional digital communication tools (i.e., e-mail / e-learning).
Reading:
• Nieman D. Nutritional Assessment. MacGraw Hill, New York, 2019 (7th edition). ISBN10: 0078021405; ISBN13: 9780078021404 • Stewart AD et al. International standards for anthropometric assessment. The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Lower Hutt, New Zealand, 2011. ISBN: 0-620-36207-3. • Silva MRG. 2015. Avaliação nutricional e composição corporal – 3ª edição. Edições Universidade Fernando Pessoa. Porto. • Frisancho AR. Anthropometric standards: an interactive nutritional reference of body composition for children and adults. Ann Arbor, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-472-11591-4. • Heymsfield S. Human body composition. 2nd ed. Human Kinetics, 2005. ISBN 0-7360-4655-0. • Heyward VH, Wagner DR. Applied body composition assessment. 2nd ed. Human Kinetics, 2004. ISBN 0-7360-4630-5. • Artigos científicos, ou outra documentação, recomendados pelas docentes com particular relevância para o programa da unidade curricular.