Understanding Obesity
In this course, we’ll look at the facts and misconceptions around obesity and discuss key physiological and psychological concepts around the brain’s control of appetite and body weight. We’ll consider the biological and environmental pressures that make it easy to gain weight (and hard to lose it!). Most importantly, we'll give you the opportunity to reflect on your own knowledge and assumptions around the subject. We deliver course materials as a mixture of videos, audio-only MOOCcasts, and a selection of short readings.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 6 hours
- Course by The University of Edinburgh
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Offered by
About
In this course, we’ll look at the facts and misconceptions around obesity and discuss key physiological and psychological concepts around the brain’s control of appetite and body weight. We’ll consider the biological and environmental pressures that make it easy to gain weight (and hard to lose it!). Most importantly, we'll give you the opportunity to reflect on your own knowledge and assumptions around the subject. We deliver course materials as a mixture of videos, audio-only MOOCcasts, and a selection of short readings. There are short weekly quizzes, a peer-reviewed exercise, and discussion activities on the forum. These will help you prepare for the final project. In it, you are invited to demonstrate your evidence-informed understanding and express how you'll develop it beyond the course. The course features Citizen Science projects. We'll collect data from you (anonymously, of course) and use it to drive participant-led discussions of controversial ideas. In this way, we hope to explore ideas around diet and obesity. These projects also give a taste of how scientific evidence is collected and interpreted by scientists, and give some indication how much there still is to discover and understand.
Modules
1.1 Before you start
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Rules of engagement
1
Readings
- About the course
1.2 What we know, what we don't know
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3
Videos
3
Videos
- Why is obesity a problem?
- What do we know about appetite and obesity? Part 1
- What do we know about appetite and obesity? Part 2
1.3 How we know it
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2
Readings
2
Readings
- MOOCcast 1.1: The Scientific Method
- MOOCcast 1.2: Science, evidence and the media
1.4 Weekly quiz
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 1 quiz
2.1 Physiology
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
1
Videos
- The physiology of appetite
2
Readings
- MOOCcast 2.1: Is food an addictive substance?
- MOOCcast 2.2: Is eating a behavioural addiction?
2.2 Stress
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Early-life experience
1
Readings
- MOOCcast 2.3: Stress, eating and dieting
2.4 Exploring barriers to healthy eating
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1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Reflecting on Barriers to Healthier Eating
2.5 Weekly quiz
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 2 quiz
3.1 Psychology
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- The psychology of appetite
1
Readings
- MOOCcast 3.1: Portion size and meal size
3.2 Behaviour
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Economic approaches to obesity
1
Readings
- MOOCcast 3.2: Food insecurity
3.4 Weekly quiz
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 3 quiz
4.1 Week 4 tasks
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1
Readings
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1
PeerReview
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 4 quiz
1
Peer Review
- Making a Plan of Action
1
Readings
- Post-Course Survey
Auto Summary
Embark on a comprehensive exploration of obesity with this engaging course designed to debunk myths and present scientific insights into the physiological and psychological aspects of appetite and body weight control. Tailored for anyone passionate about health and fitness, this foundational course delves into the biological and environmental factors influencing weight gain and loss, while encouraging personal reflection on pre-existing knowledge and beliefs. Led by expert instructors from Coursera, the course spans 360 minutes and offers a blend of multimedia content, including videos, audio MOOCcasts, and succinct readings. Weekly quizzes, peer-reviewed exercises, and interactive forum discussions prepare you for a final project where you can showcase your evidence-based understanding and future developmental plans. A unique feature of this course is its Citizen Science projects, which involve anonymous data collection from participants to fuel discussions on controversial topics related to diet and obesity. These projects offer a hands-on experience in scientific evidence collection and interpretation, highlighting the vast scope of ongoing research in this field. Flexible subscription options are available through Professional and Starter packages, making it accessible for diverse learning needs and schedules. Whether you're a health enthusiast or a professional looking to expand your knowledge, this course provides a robust foundation to understand and address obesity.
Dr John Menzies