| CODE | ACA3005 | ||||||
| TITLE | Promoting Active and Healthy Lifestyles among Adults | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit engages students with knowledge and skills required to impart the value of healthy lifestyle choices and actions for an improved quality of life to adults, with attention to how this can be done at different life stages and in different settings. More specifically, the discussion will engage students with: - The World Health Organisation’s recently published recommendations for physical activity and sedentary behaviour for adults and older adults, together with practical tips on how to train adults and older adults on meeting them; - Integration of meals using simple, healthy, low-cost, sustainable ingredients; - Main challenges to change behaviours in adults and older adults and how to overcome the main barriers to being physically active and eating healthy food; - The socio-ecological model to inform the understanding of the influence of stakeholders, and the transtheoretical model to inform the understanding of relevant stages; - The teaching of basic physical activities targeting different fitness components together with simple mindfulness exercises; - Safety during the activities and pre-exercise screening; and - Planning of practical sessions for adults using the games approach and adapted sport for older adults (e.g., walking football). Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to to provide students with knowledge, understanding and skills required to teach about and train adult learners on the following; and required to integrate the following in broader adult education and training courses: 1. Basic concepts of physical activity, exercise, fitness, sedentary behaviour and nutrition; 2. The benefits of physical activity for the general well-being of adults; 3. Practical suggestions to increase the physical activity levels in different settings such as the community, the workplace, at home or in day-care centres; 4. The ageing process and its effects on the physiological functions; and 5. Food and nutrition. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss the socio-ecological model and the transtheoretical model and how they can be used to change behaviour; - List psycho-social factors related to participation in healthy lifestyles; - Discuss main barriers to participation in physical activity and behaviour change for adults; - Describe the basic rules of innovative games for adults; - List various opportunities available for physical activity in the community and at the workplace; - Discuss safety issues related to physical activity and sport and the importance of pre-exercise screening; - Outline the basic national dietary guidelines and their application to prepare healthy snacks and meals; and - Outline key myths and the correct science around the health and nutritional value of common or fashionable foods. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Promote healthy lifestyles with adults; - Measure and monitor physical activity using self-report and objective tools and set specific targets; - Analyze the dynamics of group behaviour in relation to participation in physical activity and sport; - Plan coaching sessions to introduce innovative games for adults; - Apply models of behaviour change to promote increased participation in physical activity and to encourage healthier behaviours; - Use digital technology and simple gadgets as a way to monitor physical activity levels and health; - Use simple activities to improve the health-related fitness levels of participants; - Perform simple mindfulness exercises; - Develop simple and practical messaging using different presentation tools to promote healthy eating among adults in different life stages and household circumstances; and - Practise how to teach adults on preparation of (or integration of) low-cost, sustainable healthy snacks and simple dishes. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - World Health Organisation (WHO) (2020). WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour. Geneva: WHO. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015128 (Open access). - World Health Organisation (WHO) (2018). Promoting Physical Activity in the Health Sector. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe. Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/382337/fs-health-eng.pdf (Open access). - Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. (2016). The Healthy Plate – National Dietary Guidelines. Malta. Available at: https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/health-promotion/Documents/library/publications/Dietary%20Guidelines%20for%20Professionals%20final.pdf (Open access). Supplementary Readings: - Bouchard, D.R. (2020). Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics. (Not available but suggested to UM Library Acquisitions on 07.02.22). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Maria M. Brown (Co-ord.) Karl Cortis Andrew Decelis Sharon Mallia Adele Muscat Suzanne Piscopo Ivan Riolo |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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