Overview

This module will consist of interactive seminars and self-study and will begin with an overview of the importance of a physically active lifestyle to physical and mental wellbeing. Students will learn how physical activity can be measured and will get the opportunity to set a personal goal with the aim of improving their own physical or mental wellbeing by increasing their physical activity throughout this module. As well as learning about the importance of physical activity to their own health, students will learn about the common chronic conditions (e.g. Cardio-respiratory disease, Obesity & Diabetes, Cancer, Bone/Joint disease, neurological disease and mental health conditions) that are having a significant impact on people’s lives today and how being physically active can not only help prevent these conditions but can also be used in the treatment of these conditions.

Learning Outcomes

• 1) Critically review the relationships between regular physical activity and physical and mental health outcomes.

• 2) Understand the specialised skills required to measure physical activity and use this data to set goals and understand how to achieve them.

• 3) Report own goal setting experience and convey applied scientific knowledge to a lay person via a personal blog.

• 4) Using a range of sources, critically review the role lifestyle plays in preventing and treating common chronic diseases.

• 5) Understand how information from the relevant scientific literature can be applied to developing deeper knowledge about the pathophysiology of common chronic conditions.

• 6) Critically evaluate and apply current exercise guidelines to prescribe suitable exercise programmes for people with a range of common chronic conditions.