Program Presentation
Overweight and obesity are serious public health problems. Until the appearance of COVID-19, obesity had been considered the great pandemic of the 21st century. Not only because of the extent of its scope, reaching all regions of the world, but also because it affects different genders, ages, and multiple physiological situations.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), approximately 13.1% of adults around the world suffer from obesity, with one third of the population being overweight. The United Nations Health Assembly proposed to reduce this percentage of obesity to 11.8% by 2025. Paradoxically, in a society where access to information is within the reach of many and where options for a healthy lifestyle are plenty, we are far from achieving this goal, since overweight and obesity continue to grow every day.
In the past, this was a circumstance suffered by high-income countries. Today, it is an ailment experienced by all, since in middle and low-income countries, overweight and obesity coexist with malnutrition, a phenomenon known as double burden of malnutrition. This is mainly due to increased exposure to low-quality foods, low nutritional education, and sedentary lifestyles.
This is not merely an aesthetic issue but goes beyond that. Overweight and, above all, obesity, are associated with a host of diseases that hinder and even end the lives of those who suffer from them. Therefore, it is a health concern of the highest international level, which must be dealt with diligently and quickly.
The solution is within reach. It is a joint effort that requires the involvement of various actors, from government officials and international scientific societies to those afflicted with the disease, their families, and caregivers, and of course, health professionals. The latter must have the appropriate skills and abilities to be able to offer the tools and strategies that best suit the needs of each individual or group.
As such, the Overweight and Obesity program was created, offering up-to-date and complete education based on scientific evidence to interested professionals. The subject is approached from a global and interdisciplinary perspective, integrating etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and prevention of overweight and obesity.
Who is the programme for?
The Specialization in Overweight and Obesity program is aimed at:
- Graduates in Health Sciences who wish to specialize and update their knowledge in the nutritional approach to overweight and obesity.
- Other graduates or graduates (or equivalent) who, due to their professional practice, need to be trained in the study of overweight and obesity.
- Those professionals who have their own interest in the knowledge of overweight and obesity.
Diploma
Successful completion of the Program will award the degree of Specialization in OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY.
Upon successful completion of the Program, the student will receive the degree as issued by the University where they have enrolled.
Program Structure
The credit structure of the Overweight and obesity program is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the duration is merely indicative, as the methodology followed integrates the knowledge and skills to be acquired in each part through integrative exercises of knowledge acquisition and internalization of project practices:
| CREDITSa | |
|---|---|
| Subjects | 10 |
| TOTAL | 10 |
a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university where he/she has enrolled. One (1) ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit is equivalent to 10 + 15 hours. If the student is enrolled in a university that does not belong to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the relation between credits - hours may vary.
Duration
The program in Overweight and obesity has 10 créditos.
The duration of the program in Overweight and obesity varies between 6 and 9 months, depending on the student's dedication. In this period of time, the student must have successfully passed all the evaluated activities and approved the Final Project, if any.
Objectives
General Objective
- To educate professionals with the skills to respond and propose solutions to individual and collective needs related to overweight and obesity, from a multidisciplinary perspective based on scientific evidence.
Specific Objectives
- Analyze the pathophysiology, etiopathogenesis, diagnostic criteria and complications of obesity.
- Examine the particular aspects of obesity in the different stages of life and the main complications that can result from it.
- Distinguish dietary guidelines and tools for the prevention and treatment of excess weight as part of a multidisciplinary, global, and comprehensive intervention.
- Propose dietary-nutritional strategies for obese and overweight patients adapted to their pathophysiological situation and individual characteristics.
- Recognize nutrition and health education as key elements in the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Career Opportunities
Depending on the previous degree, some of the career opportunities in the Overweight and Obesity program are:
- Dietary and nutritional counseling in public or private institutions (healthcare centers, sports centers, schools, geriatric centers, etc.) and non-governmental organizations.
- Healthcare manager or agent in public and private entities dedicated to the promotion of health and healthy habits.
- Field consulting in community nutrition and public health projects.
- Disseminator and generator of knowledge based on scientific evidence in the media and social networks.
- Consultant for consumer information and marketing services related to food.
- Technical advice on research and information programs and product promotion to ensure the relation between marketing, technology, and research and development.
- Commercial functions in food or pharmaceutical companies.
Note: Professional practice is regulated by the legislation of each country.
Study Plan
The Overweight and Obesity Program is composed of 2 subjects, whose objective is to analyze the fundamentals of diagnosis, possible complications, prevention, and treatment of overweight and obesity, from a global and interdisciplinary perspective.
The corresponding subjects and credits are shown in the following table:
| # | SUBJECTS | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnosis, Etiopathogenesis and Complications of Obesity | 5 |
| 2 | Obesity Treatment and Prevention | 5 |
| TOTAL | 10 | |
Note: The subject content may be subjected to slight modifications due to updates and improvements.
Management
Academic Administration
- Dr. Maurizio Battino. Researcher in Biochemistry and professor in the Scuola di Specializzazione in Scienza dell'Alimentazione. Professor at the Università Politecnica delle Marche. Scientific Director of the European University of the Atlantic.
General Academic Coordination
- Dra. Irma Domínguez Azpíroz. International Coordinator.
- Dra. (c) Anna Marín Coordinator in the Nutrition Area.
FUNIBER Training Scholarships
The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.
To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.
Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.