Course Description

Prerequisite: None

The 3-credit advanced graduate level course will cover the various topics regarding the global obesity epidemic from multiple perspectives, ranging from methodological issues, the causes and drivers, health consequences, to intervention and policy issues. The course will help the students to develop a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and in-depth understanding of this serious, complex, global health problem, the related research development, and intervention options. Examples of topics covered include: the assessment of body composition; definition and classification of obesity in children and adults and in different populations and ethnic groups; the use of local vs. international standards; the scope of the problem in the U.S. and worldwide; the multilevel risk factors and drivers for the global epidemic; intervention options including related policy options and debates; and research methods commonly used in obesity epidemiological research. By end of the class, students will understand and can use study designs and epidemiologic methods to conduct obesity research, can critically analyze studies on obesity epidemiology, and have a critical view on evidence-based policy implications of recent obesity research findings. The course will help expose the students to update research in the field and will also provide direct discussion with leading experts in the field.