Back
EXSC 201 Exercise, Nutrition, & Weight Control
Professor: Wayne C. Miller, Ph.D.
Office: Building K, Room 106
Office Hrs: Monday 10-12 a.m., Tuesday 2-4 p.m., Wednesday 4-6 p.m.
Phone: 994-2952 e-mail:
Course Description:
A variety of contemporary issues related to obesity are studied. Topics may include obesity
and health risks, factors promoting fat deposition and metabolism, traditional vs non-traditional
weight-loss programs, and adherence to weight-loss programs. Recommendations for developing
a comprehensive weight management program are proposed.
Topical Outline:
1. Body Composition vs. Body Weight
2. Methods to determine Body Composition
3. Obesity and Health Risks
4. Factors Promoting Body Fat Deposition
a. Nutritional Factors
1. Diet Composition
2. Excess Energy Intake
3. Eating Behaviors
b. Metabolic Factors
1. Metabolic Rate
2. Genetics
3. Lifestyle
4. Energy Balance
5 Factors Promoting Body Fat Metabolism
1. Metabolic Rate
2. Exercise
3. Diet Composition
4. Reduced Energy Intake
6. Traditional Weight Loss-Programs
7. Non-Traditional Weight-Loss Programs
8. Compliance and Adherence to Weight-Management Programs
Course Overview:
This is a graduate course on obesity and body composition. The focus of the courses is upon
the factors that regulate fat deposition and metabolism in the body. We will investigate how exercise,
diet composition, caloric content, and eating behavior, and genetics affect body fat stores. We will
survey different approaches to weight management and evaluate their effectiveness. In addition, we
will evaluate the scientific research relative to body composition determination and weight
management.
There is no required text for the course, although many supplementary texts are available.
The research literature as well as popular literature will provide the basis for our class discussions.
Evaluation Procedure:
Each student will be required to do a research paper as well as a research presentation. The
research paper will be to investigate a problem in the area of obesity and design an experiment to
answer a research question. This term paper will include a review of the literature surrounding the
question with the appropriate methodology to answer the question.
The research presentation will be an oral presentation of a research article in the area of
obesity and body composition. The specific paper will be assigned. Each student will present one
research article in class as if he/she were the author. This means he/she presents the research as if it
were his /her own; justifying the need, explaining the methods, presenting the results, and discussing
the findings. The remainder of the class will critique the work while the "author" defends it.
Therefore you must be familiar with the research you present along with current related literature.
Grading Breakdown: % of total grade
Research Project .................. 20
Research Presentation .......... 10
Midterm ............................... 35
Final ..................................... 35
Final: The final will be held on the University scheduled final examination date. Tentative schedule
is Wednesday, December 13th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Textbooks and Supplementary Material:
1. A Balanced Diet? (1988), Dobbing, J. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York.
2. Obesity and Weight Control: The Health Professionals Guide to Understanding and
Treatment. (1988), Frankle, R.T. and Yang, M. Aspen Publishers, Inc., Rockville, Maryland.
3. The Non-Diet Diet: A Simple 100-Point Scoring System for Weight Loss Without Counting
Calories. (1991), Miller, W.C. Morton Publishing Company, Englewood, Colorado.
4. Selected Readings in Obesity and Body Composition. Miller, W.C.
5. Healthy Weight Journal. Healthy Living Institute, Hettinger, North Dakota.
6. International Journal of Obesity Library.
7. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Library.
EXSC 201 Exercise, Nutrition, & Weight Control
Date Article or Topic Presenter
8/30 Introduction, Brozek - Hydrostatic Weighing, Body
wk 1 Composition Techniques, Bray - Pathophysiology of
Obesity, Health Risks, Prevalence, Economic Costs Miller
9/6 Ravussin - 24-h Energy Expenditure and RMR Miller
wk 2 Prentice - High levels of EE in obese women Miller
Ravussin - Reduced rate of EE as a Risk Factor Miller
Foster - Resting EE, body composition, & excess wt. Miller
Mol‚ - Exercise reverses depressed metabolic rate Miller
9/13 Oscai - Effect of dietary fat on food intake, growth Miller
wk 3 Oscai - Effect of dietary sugar and of dietary fat Miller
Miller - Diet composition, energy intake, and exercise Miller
Miller - Dietary fat, sugar, and fiber predict body fat Miller
9/20 Blackburn - Weight cycling: the experience of human Ron
wk 4 Jebb - Effects of weight cycling caused by intermittent Stacia
Jeffery - Weight cycling and cardiovascular risk Amy H.
Rumpler - Energy-intake restriction and diet- John
Fricker - Energy-metabolism adaptation in obese Amy S.
9/27 Epstein - Aerobic exercise and weight Jacci
wk 5 Pavlou - Exercise as an adjunct to weight loss and Abby
Andersson - The effects of exercise training on body Matt
Tremblay - Effect of intensity of physical activity Art
Klesges - A longitudinal analysis of the impact Candice
Miller - Predicting max HR and the HR VO2 Donna
10/4 Donato - Efficiency of utilization of various sources J.J.
wk 6 Flatt - Effects of Dietary fat on postprandial substrate Patti
Kendall - Weight loss on a low-fat diet: Harriet
Sheppard - Weight loss in women participating in Judy
Prewitt - Changes in body weight, body composition, Kirsten
Schlundt - Randomized evaluation of a low fat ad lib Hilary
10/11 Catch up and review
wk 7
10/18 MIDTERM
wk 8
10/25 Miller - Weight loss perceptions, characteristics, Mike
wk 9 Bj”rvell - Long-term effects of commonly available Jolie
Van Dale - Weight maintenance and resting Laura
Kayman - Maintenance and relapse after weight Wynne
NIH - Methods for voluntary weight loss and Miller
Miller - 25 year Meta-analytical review Miller
11/1 Miller - Successful weight loss in a self-taught, Cassandra
wk 10 Miller - Cardiovascular risk reduction in a self-taught Miller
Burros - Diet game, where changes of winning Miller
Tufts University Newsletter - Program Evaluations Miller
Miller - Role of diet and exercise in weight mgmt. Miller
11/8 Miller - A thin man in a fat society Miller
wk 11 Fat Chance - Video Zakowich
11/15 Extended Class: 6:10 - 10:00 p.m. (Thanksgiving Make-up)
wk 12 Stunkard - Psychological aspects of severe obesity Miller
Miller - Psychology of Weight Control - Slides Miller
Weight Loss Therapy Practicum XXXXX
11/22 No Class!!! Thanksgiving Holiday
wk 13
11/29 Term Papers Due
wk 14 Weight Loss Therapy Practicum XXXXX
Oprah's Weight Control Struggle - Video Oprah
12/6 The Perfect Fit - Video CNN Special
wk 15 ABC News - Hunger Inside - Video XXXXX
6/13 FINAL - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
wk 16