Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle NUTR 2306

Course description:

Healthy individuals require the same nutrients across the life cycle but in differing amounts. Nutritional needs can be met by a wide variety of cultural andreligious food practices.  Nutritional status during one stage of the life cycleinfluences health status during subsequent life-cycle stages. 
This course provides a study of nutritional requirements based on the assessment of the nutritional status of individuals at any age from birth until old age. It addresses humans’ nutritional requirements in various physiological states during their lifecycle: preconception, pregnancy and lactation, infant feeding, Preschool, school-age, adolescents, adults and the elderly.

Course Aims:

By the end of the course students will be able to:
  • Recognize the importance of nutrition during various life stages. 
  • Provide basic nutrition information, including food sources of nutrients, roles of nutrients in the body, and disorders associated with inadequate nutrition.
  • Calculate basic nutritional requirements for all age groups from infancy to the elderly. 
  • Describe the basic nutrients necessary for women during the pre-conception period. pregnancy and lactation. 
  • Identify basic nutritional needs of women during pregnancy and lactation. 
  • Identify at what age children should begin to eat complementary foods, Name quality, locally available, feasible, and affordable foods for infants 6–12 months old.
  • Identify national nutrition guidelines, policies, and strategies to combat the nutritional problems.

Course outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  • Understand the importance of good nutrition and the functions of nutrients, their deficiency symptoms and requirements during various life stages.
  • Correlate different life stages and physiological stages with body needs of energy and nutrients.
  • Assess nutritional status and analyze assessment data to determine nutrient requirements for all age groups.
  • Develop a plan of action, including client education, for meeting nutritional needs.
  • Implement the nutritional care plan for every age group.