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Unit of study_

PMED5102: Paediatric Nutrition and Obesity

Semester 2, 2021 [Online] - Westmead, Sydney

This unit examines the worldwide status and trends in child and adolescent obesity incorporating a focus on paediatric nutrition It explores the determinants clinical assessment medical complications management and prevention of this important public health problem There is a close integration of epidemiology basic science and best available evidence in management and prevention into clinically based scenarios Our aim is to provide you with a broad knowledge base and ability to apply scientific theory and clinical evidence to the diagnosis and management of obesity in childhood This will include grounding in the complex social cultural and environmental factors contributing to the continuance of childhood obesity throughout the world

Unit details and rules

Unit code PMED5102
Academic unit Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Louise Baur, louise.baur@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Shirley Alexander, shirley.alexander@sydney.edu.au
Louise Baur, louise.baur@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Quiz
Online quiz
5% Week 02 Refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assignment 1
Written essay
25% Week 07 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO7 LO8 LO12 LO13
Assignment Assignment 2
Written essay
25% Week 12 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO14 LO15 LO16
Online task Discussion board contributions
Online discussion - post and reply required.
45% Weekly 5x Discussion Board Topics worth 9% each
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO16 LO15 LO14 LO12 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5

Assessment summary

  • Discussion topics:

    You will be assessed according to the quality of the initial posting for each topic, as well as the quality of your contributions each week to ongoing discussion, both with the module facilitators and your fellow students. Late postings will attract a penalty in grading.

    For each discussion topic, in your first response (first posting to the discussion board) you should respond to all the questions and issues outlined in that discussion topic task by the due date. In your subsequent responses, you should respond to any questions asked by the Facilitator, and you may choose to respond to questions or issues raised by other students. 

    NOTE: You must create a thread and submit your first response in order to view other threads in a forum.

    You are encouraged to read all the current discussion threads (messages), particularly before you make responses to discussions raised by students.

    Your initial posting answer to each discussion topic is to be submitted by Wednesday (due date) of the relevant week, so that you and your peers have time to read and comment on one another's discussion postings. Each discussion topic closes ten days from the initial post due date for any posts that will be marked.

    Discussion boards will be made available a week before the first post is due.

  • First post: Wednesday of each relevant week, at 23:59 (AEST/AEDT).

  • Final responses: Saturday of each relevant week, at 23:59 (AEST/AEDT).

 

Grading: This assessment will contribute 45% of your final grade for the unit. Please refer to the assessments section for more information.

  • Assignment 1 and 2:

Grading:

Assignment 1 will contribute 25% of your final grade for this unit.
Assignment 2 will contribute 25% of your final grade for this unit.

Word limit: 2000 words, not including references.

  • Quiz

    There is only 1 attempt allowed for this quiz in Week 2.

    Grading: This assessment will contribute to 5% of your final grade for the unit. 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Assessment tasks must be submitted by 23:59 hours of its due date unless a request for an extension is made at least 3 days prior to the due date. Requests for extensions should be submitted via email to the unit coordinator stating the reasons. Extensions granted by the unit coordinator will normally be no more than 3 days. This is because it is assumed that you commenced preparation of your assessment task well before the due date – not a few days before. The length of the extension granted will therefore be built on the assumption that work should have commenced on the assessment task well before the reason for the extension being requested. This policy has been developed to address a range of problems of a severe nature which interfere with a student’s ability to meet assessment requirements. Late assessment tasks that have not been granted extensions will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark per day late including weekend days. Assessment tasks which are submitted more than 10 days late without prior approval will not be accepted and will be a fail. All assignments must be submitted by the due date. Students are expected to manage their time and to prioritise tasks to meet deadlines. Assessment items submitted after the due date without an approved extension using a special consideration or special arrangement form or request will incur the following penalties: • Late assignments that have not been granted extensions and are of a standard to receive a pass or higher mark will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark per day (or part thereof) late including weekend days (e.g. if the assignment is worth 40 marks, the penalty is 2 marks per day late) until the mark reaches 50% of the maximum mark (e.g. 20 marks if the maximum is 40 marks). • Assignments that are not of a pass standard will not have marks deducted and will fail regardless. • Assignments submitted more than 10 days late without prior approval from the unit of study coordinator will not be accepted and will be given a zero (0) mark.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Module 1: Epidemiology and risk factors (Weeks 1 & 2) Online class (20 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Module 2: Child and adolescent nutrition (Weeks 3 & 4) Online class (20 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Module 3: Clinical complications and management (Weeks 5-12) Online class (80 hr) LO9 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13
Module 4: Prevention (Week 13) Online class (10 hr) LO14 LO15 LO16

Attendance and class requirements

  • It is essential that you have regular internet access, as you will be required to engage in a number of online tasks.

    You will be expected to:

  • Check your University mail electronically at least every week
  • Participate actively in online discussions. Active participation means that you are present and engage with others in discussion of ideas found in readings and/or grounded in practical experience
  • Carefully read the required course materials, including readings
  • Complete each assignment/assessment task on time
  • Write in an Academic Writing Style (if you need assistance with academic writing, see more information in the 'Referencing Written Work')
  • If any period of absence is completely unavoidable, we advise you to:

  • Manage your time so that you complete the readings and online tasks before you leave
  • Use the Discussion Board to advise your peers of your absence
  • Notify the Unit Coordinator
  • Study commitment

    Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Describe the worldwide epidemiology of childhood overweight and obesity
  • LO2. Summarize and identify the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for the development of obesity in childhood
  • LO3. Demonstrate selection of methods of measurement of obesity for clinical and research practice
  • LO4. Breakdown nutritional requirements for normal child and adolescent growth
  • LO5. Analyze dietary patterns and behaviours that contribute to childhood overweight and obesity
  • LO6. Identify common nutritional problems encountered in children with overweight or obesity
  • LO7. Incorporate your understanding of the dietary patterns and behaviours contributing to obesity in individuals into management suggestions or dietary plans
  • LO8. Develop a nutritional management plan for the extremely overweight child or adolescent
  • LO9. Categorize the range and mechanisms of complications of child and adolescent obesity according to the major organ systems
  • LO10. Discuss medical, genetic and other conditions associated with or at risk for child and adolescent obesity
  • LO11. Learn to choose and formulate recommended conventional weight management/loss strategies
  • LO12. Integrate your knowledge about the complications of obesityincluding pscyhological impact into your overall assessment and management of the child or adolescent with obesity
  • LO13. Provide clinical advice on the pharmaceutical and surgical management options for children and adolescents with obesity
  • LO14. Critique current evidence for prevention strategies evaluated in the current literat
  • LO15. Recognise potential avenues for prevention of childhood obesity at an individual and population level
  • LO16. Apply your theoretical knowledge about prevention strategies into your own clinical practice

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We value your feedback about any aspect of the unit of study and your experience as a student of the Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health. To help ensure our courses meet your needs and maintain a high standard, we welcome your feedback at any time and we ask you to complete the Mid-Semester Evaluation Survey and the unit of study Evaluation Survey at the end of the semester. You can also rate any component of the unit using our star rating system found at the bottom of many pages as you progress through the unit. Your ratings and comments are anonymous and specifying what you liked and didn’t like about any of the learning materials, assessment items, discussion forums, feedback etc will help us to target our improvement efforts. Please note that your participation in this unit of study permits de-identified information about your learning experience and interaction with learning resources to be used for the purpose of improving the student learning experience.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.