WELCOME!!!

A warm welcome 'et bienvenue' to the Human Nutrition and Dietetics Program, the HUNU 510 course, and the beautiful Point Grey campus! I wish to acknowledge and share my respect to the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People for being stewards of the land, on which we gather to learn from each other and build thriving and respectful communities. 

I am sincerely looking forward to meeting you all in class and tackling the exciting topics of nutritional assessment methods and nutrition priorities in diverse population groups of all ages and life stages this fall term.

We have a full package of diverse methodologies, public health challenges, and critical life stages to study, evaluate, and translate this term.

With everyone's motivation and commitment, I am positive we can make this an engaging and comprehensive course with in-class discussions, 'hot of the press' readings, online assignments, and student-led presentations. 

 

SYLLABUS

Please find below information on several important aspects of this course. Alternatively, you can download or view the complete draft of the syllabus via this link:

UBC HUNU 510 Syllabus - Nutrition Assessment Across the Lifespan 2025-2026.pdf

 

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Dr Yvonne Lamers

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30pm to 1:50pm

Class location: West Mall Swing Space SWNG 108 

Instructor contact information: speaking with me after class is the easiest; alternatively, please drop me an email and we can schedule an appointment.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We respectfully acknowledge that UBC’s Point Grey Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The land, on which this campus is situated, has always been a place of learning for the Musqueam people, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this site.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Overall learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the Nutrition Care Process and relate how nutrition assessment parameters contribute to Medical Nutrition Therapy for individuals and populations. (ICDEP 1.06a/b/c/d)

  2. Compare, contrast, and choose appropriate nutrition assessment methods based on their strengths and limitations for various life stages and conditions of health and disease. (ICDEP 1.04a/b/c/d/e, 5.01a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/i/j/k)

  3. Interpret and utilize results of anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary assessment tools to assess an individual’s nutrition status. (ICDEP 1.06a/b/c/d, 1.07a, 5.01a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/i/j/k, 5.02a/b)

  4. Assess and evaluate the dietary intake of individuals at different life stages and recommend appropriate guidance on nutrition-related issues. (ICDEP 2.01a/b/c/d, 5.01b/c, 5.03a/b/c/d/e, 5.04b/c)

  5. Discuss new or emerging indicators of nutrition assessment for individuals and populations. (ICDEP 4.03b/d, 4.04a/b)

  6. Examine physiological and psychosocial changes over the life span with implications for nutrition, describe how dietary needs and behaviours are affected by these changes, and integrate these findings into nutrition recommendations. (ICDEP 1.04a/b/c/d/e, 1.05a/b/c/d/e/f/g, 1.06a/b/c/d)

  7. Summarize why nutrition requirements change over life for key nutrients (e.g., protein, fat, iron, calcium, vitamin D). (ICDEP 1.04a/b/c/d/e)

  8. Explain and justify current dietary guidance, especially for life stages when nutritional status is particularly important (e.g., pregnancy, infant and young child feeding, older adulthood). (ICDEP 1.04a/c, 5.01a)

 

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS

Overview of weekly topics

Week 1:          Introduction; Nutrition Care Process; Dietary guidelines     Sep 2 and 4
Week 2:          Anthropometric & Clinical assessment methods     Sep 9 and 11         
Week 3:          Biochemical assessment methods     Sep 16 and 18         
Week 4:          Dietary assessment methods    Sept 23 and 25   
Week 5/6:      Pregnancy    Oct 2 and 7
Week 6/7:      Lactation and Infancy     Oct 9 and 14      
Week 7/8:      Toddlerhood and Childhood    Oct 16 and 21      
Week 8/9:      School Nutrition and Adolescence     Oct 23 and 28    
Week 9:          Review Class    Oct 30
Week 10:        Adulthood    Nov 4 and 6 
Week 11/12:  Aging, Palliation    Nov 13 and 18
Week 12:        Special topics in Nutrition across the lifespan    Nov 20        
Week 13/14:  Student-led Debates    Nov 25, Nov 27, Dec 2
Week 14:        Recap / key aspects of Nutrition across the Lifespan    Dec 4
 

 

LEARNING MATERIALS

  1. Essential reading material for each weekly topic will be posted on Canvas under "Modules".

  2. Recommended textbook: Lee, R.D. and Nieman, D.C. 2019. Nutritional Assessment, 7th edition, McGraw-Hill Higher Education Ltd, New York. Available in Woodward Library stacks: Call Number: QU146.1 .N671 2019. Approximately $50 for text or e-book rental; $100 for text or e-book purchase

  3. Dietary Assessment Software: ESHA Food Processor (available through Dr Lamers’ research team). For personal use/purchase (optional), the costs for ESHA software are $26 US dollars per month.  https://esha.com/products/food-processor-student-subscription/. Another option is: Diet & Wellness Plus – online access (cengage.com, approx. $35), or other dietary assessment software (e.g., Keenoa).

  1. Dietitians of Canada Courses (optional):
    a.    WHO Growth Chart Training (5 modules); $35 student pricing
    b.    Nutrition Screening (4 modules); Non-Members: $210; DC Students: $52.50

 

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including those for survivors of sexual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for religious observances.
UBC values academic honesty and students are expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic standards in all of their actions.
Details of the policies and how to access support are available on the UBC Senate website.

 

OTHER COURSE POLICIES

Students are expected to attend all lectures and participate in all learning activities in class as they relate to practical assessment methods for dietitians (e.g. dietary assessment activities).
Absentee Policy: We expect you to be present and prepared for all class meetings. In the event that you are unable to attend a scheduled class because of illness or emergency, you are responsible for any material presented in class. See UBC’s policy regarding illness and accommodations. You are expected to contact the instructor and submit a medical note/certificate of illness or appropriate documentation for any absence that requires accommodation.
This course, like all required courses in the MND program, contributes to coverage of the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice (ICDEP). All students in the Dietetics Major should refer to the Mapping of Curriculum to ICDEP page on the dietetics website to familiarize themselves with the requirements.

 

COPYRIGHT

All materials of this course (course handouts, lecture slides, assessments, course readings, etc.) are the intellectual property of the Course Instructor or licensed to be used in this course by the copyright owner. Redistribution of these materials by any means without permission of the copyright holder(s) constitutes a breach of copyright and may lead to academic discipline.

Students are not permitted to record class lectures.

 

Syllabus Version 5: amendments/updates by Dr Yvonne Lamers, 08/2025
Syllabus Version 4: amendments/updates by Dr Yvonne Lamers, 08/2024
Syllabus Version 3: amendments/updates by Dr Yvonne Lamers, 08/2023
Syllabus Version 2: amendments/updates by Dr Yvonne Lamers, 08/2022
Syllabus Version 1: original draft prepared by Dr Tamara Cohen and Gilbert Lee

If any changes are made to the course outline, content, or assessment activities, the students will be informed on time through Canvas and in class.

 

Photo credit/course image 'apple in sunlight': UBC Brand & Marketing - UBC Farm copyright