ODL57 Diet and Nutrition Diploma

Diploma in Diet and Nutrition Diploma

This Quality Assured Level 3 Diploma in Diet and Nutrition is suitable for all those who wish to achieve an understanding of the principles of good nutrition and healthy living, or to enhance an existing knowledge.

Course Description

Diet and Nutrition Diploma

It will be of interest to you if, you like to eat healthily and wish to know more about diet and nutrition, and/or are interested in sharing your knowledge about diet and nutrition with others.

The course will cover a wide variety of topics from the digestive system and vegetarianism to eating disorders and personal dietary plans.

The Level 3 Diploma in Diet and Nutrition will be awarded by Oxford College to those students who successfully complete all 10 modules of this course, a thesis and conclude with an online examination. Materials can be studied online or students have the option to print the documents once, there is also the option to have the materials delivered for an additional charge.

Course Content:

Module 1 - The Digestive system

This module concentrates on exploring the key details about our digestive systems, so that, before we look at the specifics of diet and nutrition, we have an understanding of how the different elements of our digestive system work, and why it is important that we know more about how our food gets from our plates into our tissues and cells, and what foods are beneficial to our body.

When looking at the subject of diet and nutrition, it is important for us to consider what nutrition actually is, and why we need food.

Module 2 - Dietary Nutrients

This module introduces the basics of good nutrition. It helps us understand how to introduce good nutrition into our daily lives and teaches us concepts such as "Energy Balance", "Body Mass Index" and "The Harris Benedict Equation".

The important dietary nutrients of carbohydrate, protein and fats and oils are explained in more detail, so that we can understand the function of these nutrients in our body.

Module 3 - Supplementary Nutrients

A lot of people believe that vitamins and minerals are health enhancers and that consuming plenty of them will lead to a long and healthy life. In fact, as we will discover in this module, vitamins and minerals do not directly provide us with energy nor does consuming a lot of them automatically guarantee optimal health.

In this module, we will find out what vitamins and minerals actually do, where they come from, and what requirements we have.

Module 4 - The Role of Fluids

In this module, we will be looking at why we need to consume water and the best way of obtaining sufficient quantities. We will also examine the role of electrolytes, and learn how to recognize and prevent dehydration.

We also explore some facts about alcohol and how our bodies metabolise it, as well as the effects of alcohol on our health.

Module 5 - Weight Loss and Dieting

This module looks at the effects of weight loss on health, and highlights the risks of rapid weight loss methods. We examine the reasons why many people find it so difficult to lose weight and then maintain this loss.

We also look at appetite control and metabolism and the effects of different diets, culminating in simple effective strategies we can use to lose weight and maintain this weight loss. We also consider simply strategies for gaining weight, without turning to flab.

Module 6 - Vegetarianism

Surveys suggest that about one in twenty people in the United Kingdom are vegetarian; many people choose to follow a vegetarian diet for a variety of reasons. In this module, students are going to look at the whole topic of vegetarianism, including some of the reasons people choose a vegetarian lifestyle. We will, naturally, look at the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, or, indeed, whether vegetarian diets are always healthy, as well as the different variations of the vegetarian diet, including some ideas for meals.

Module 7 - Young People

In this module we will concentrate on the particular nutritional requirements of young people. So this module will be of particular interest to all those involved in caring for young people and young people themselves, of course.

We will explore the energy needs of young people, especially if they are very active, as well as their protein, carbohydrate and fluid needs, specifically looking at how these may differ from the needs of adults.

Module 8 - Groups with Special Dietary Needs

In this module, we concentrate on the diet and nutrition of groups with special dietary needs including, women at different stages of their lives, including during pregnancy and the menopause.

Other groups with special dietary needs include those diagnosed as having diabetes, heart disease, allergies and asthma. We will consider the signs and symptoms associated with these diseases and what we can do to prevent or delay their onset.

Module 9 - Eating Disorders

In this module, we are going to look more closely at what disordered eating actually is and the three main categories of eating disorder, that is, anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating. These three, according to most of the experts on the subject of eating disorders, rather than just being a problem with food and body image, are an outward expression of psychological conflict.

You may not be able to label a sufferer as being one or the other of these, as quite often, anorexics might later become bulimic and compulsive eaters might also become bulimic from time to time. It is, however, useful to know the distinct differences between the eating disorders and their effects, and this is something we will discover throughout this module.

Module 10 - Personal Dietary Plans

This is a very practical module, in that it asks you to design a personal dietary plan, taking into account all the personal details of the person you are designing the plan for. It may be for yourself or for someone you are advising about diet and nutrition.

Included in your plan will be suggestions and ideas for meals, and advice on keeping food and exercise diaries, so that any goals may be successfully achieved within a given time frame.

Previous Knowledge Required

No previous knowledge or experience is essential to study this course.

Support

This course offers 12 Months Tutor Support. Tutors are available to answer student questions relating to course materials and to comment on the assignments that are sent in to state how well students have understood the unit content.

Assessment

Final online multiple choice examination counts for 100% of the final grade.  Throughout the course there are ten SAPs (coursework) and a thesis.  The course clearly states that this is not mandatory to complete as it has no bearing on the final grade.  We do suggest that students complete these as this will not only assist them in examination preparation but also will give the student the skill set should they wish to continue their studies (continuous professional development) at a higher level.

Modules

• Module 1 - The Digestive system
• Module 2 - Dietary Nutrients
• Module 3 - Supplementary Nutrients
• Module 4 - The Role of Fluids
• Module 5 - Weight Loss and Dieting
• Module 6 - Vegetarianism
• Module 7 - Young People
• Module 8 - Groups with Special Dietary Needs
• Module 9 - Eating Disorders
• Module 10 - Personal Dietary Plans

Awarding Body

This Level 3 Diploma in Diet and Nutrition is Quality Assured by OLQA. Upon successful completion of the course you will receive certification awarded by Oxford College. The qualification does not carry UCAS points but is recognised by employers and some universities as a level 3 qualification. For entry into university students will need to check the relevant university’s entry requirements to see if they will accept a Level 3 Diploma in place of A Levels / UCAS points.

For more information about Awarding Bodies click here