GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
College of Health and Human Services
Division of Health Promotion
Spring 2011
Course Syllabus
PH700F: Seminar in Childhood Obesity
Day/Time:
Location:
Instructor:
Phone:
Wednesdays 4-6:40PM
Sky Park Court, Suite 100
Gregory Talavera, MD, MPH
594-4086/Fax 594-3604
Office: 9245 Sky Park Court
Office hrs: By Appointment
Schedule Number: 22308
Cell/Message Phone: 884-8239
Course Description
PH 700 is a seminar course designed to provide information on current public health issues and
research topics relating to obesity among children living in the US. The focus is on the
exploration of the complex pyscho-social-biological factors that contribute to the obesity
epidemic. Special emphasis will be given to health promotion issues and intervention strategies.
Consistent with the SDSU/GSPH mission, the course will also explore the impact of the USMexico border on obesity. The topics covered parallel the agendas of the major governmental
agencies and current programs. Through lecture, discussion, guest speakers and applied learning
the course will examine obesity in the life categories of children, from birth through adolescence.
Course Goals: The goal of PH700F is provide the graduate student with the basic background
knowledge of the major public health issues surrounding the obesity epidemic. The student
projects are designed to provide mechanism for applied learning. Special consideration will be
given to culturally distinct groups and issues related to border health. This will enable the student
to understand their influence of social and cultural phenomena on types, patterns, distribution of,
and response to disease.
Course Objectives: By the end of the course, students should be able to:
 List the major public health issues of childhood obesity though the life course.
 Recognize special circumstances for children living along the border.
 Describe the national and local research agenda for childhood obesity.
 Describe health promotion interventions appropriate for childhood obesity.
 Identify the major Internet resources for information related to childhood obesity.
Text and Materials:
No text book required
Reading material, lecture notes and other course material will be posted on the Blackboard
Instructional Modes: This course uses variety of instructional modes including didactic
lecture, small group discussions, problem solving techniques and guest lectures from
experts in the community.
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Grading criteria:
Grading for the course will be based upon performance of two tasks: (1) two examinations, and
(2) one class assignment.
Examination 1
Group Assignment(s)
Examination 2
25 %
50 %
25 %
Course grades will be assigned as follows based on total points accumulated for the semester:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CF
96-100 %
90-95 %
87-89 %
84-86 %
80-83 %
77-79 %
74-76 %
70-73 %
<70 %
Description of Student Assignment
The YEAH! training manual and supplementary training course teach participants how to
coordinate and conduct community improvement projects with volunteer youth and adults. YEAH!
training participants learn how to guide youth and community residents to identify certain
neighborhood traits that affect the quality of nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention and
to advocate for improvements with local policy and decision makers. Students who participate in
the PH 700 Seminar will receive YEAH! training and will subsequently partner with high school
and middle school students to complete a community improvement project that encourages
healthy eating and physical activity in their communities.
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Date
Week 1
(Jan 24)
Week 2
(Jan 31)
Week 3
(Feb 7)
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
College of Health and Human Services
Division of Health Promotion
PH 700G: Seminar: Obesity in Children
Spring 2011: Mondays, 4:00 – 6:40pm
Course Calendar
Topics
Comment
Introduction to course
Overview of Obesity in Children
Definitions and Measurement
Risk factors for obesity (Biological;
GT / KK
Behavioral; Cultural)
Disparities
Consequences of Obesity
San Diego Childhood Obesity Initiative
(COI)
Cheryl Moder, San Diego County
Background, history, description, model,
Childhood Obesity Initiative,
organizational structure, overview of
Community Health Improvement
strategic plans, partner organizations, key Partners
accomplishments, etc.
Melanie Cohn, San Diego County
Childhood Obesity Initiative,
Community Health Improvement
YEAH! Training (part 1)
Partners
Leah Ostenberg, WalkSanDiego
Melanie Cohn, San Diego County
Childhood Obesity Initiative,
Community Health Improvement
Partners
Week 4
(Feb 14) YEAH! Training (part 2)
Leah Ostenberg, WalkSanDiego
COI Presentation—Healthcare & Schools
Phyllis Hartigan, MPH, Rady
Domains: Overview, partner organizations, Children’s Hospital Center for
Week 5 strategies, accomplishments, current
Healthier Communities
(Feb 21) projects/activities
Deirdre Kleske, California Project
Student group meetings
LEAN
Christine Lafontant, County of
COI Presentation—Government &
San Diego Parks & Recreation
Community Domains: Overview, partner
Dept.
Week 6 organizations, strategies, accomplishments,
(Feb 28) current projects/activities
Katherine Judd, County of San
Diego Health & Human Services
Student group meetings
Agency
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Debbie Macdonald, YMCA
COI Presentation—Early Childhood, Media
Childcare Resource Service
& Business Domains
Week 7 Overview, partner organizations, strategies,
Jamie Moody, Institute for
(Mar 7) accomplishments, current projects/activities
Behavioral & Community Health
SDSU Research Foundation
Student group meetings
MOVE/me Muevo
Christine Edwards, MPH, Health
COI Presentation—Evaluation: Review of
Policy Consulting Group
COI evaluation plan and activities;
presentation by County Health Statistics
Leslie Linton, JD, MPH, Health
Week 8
Unit on community health
Policy Consulting Group
(Mar 14)
indicators/mapping
Julie Cooke, MPH, CPH, County
Student group meetings
of San Diego, Community Health
Statistics Unit
CPPW Presentation: Description, overview
Lindsey Cox, MS, San Diego
Week 9 and update of interventions
County Health & Human Services
(Mar 21)
Agency
Student group meetings
Week 10
Spring Recess
(Mar 28)
Consequences
Diabetes, liver, lipids
Metabolic syndrome
Week 11
GT / KK
(Apr 4)
Clinic-based programs & primary care
Week 12
(Apr 11)
Student group meetings
RCT / R01 Overview
GT / KK
Student group meetings
Week 13
Student Presentations (including school
(Apr 18)
youth, future plans)
Week 14 Student Presentations (including school
(Apr 25) youth, future plans)
Week 15
EXAM 2
(May 2)
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Students
Students
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Religious Absences
The University Policy File includes the following statement on absence for Religious
Observances: By the end of the second week of classes, students should notify the instructors of
affected courses of planned absences for religious observances.
Course policies:
Missing class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor to
discuss alternatives to any quiz or exercise you miss, and to obtain lecture notes, handouts, other
materials or instructions from the course Blackboard site or a classmate.
Testing. Once a test begins, students are not to leave the classroom until all students have
completed the test. Needs should be attended to prior to the test or quiz.
Extenuating circumstances. If severe difficulties (e.g., illness, injury, death of a family
member) prevent you from completing an assignment on time, please contact the instructor to
discuss alternative arrangements.
Disability. If you have a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in
order to participate in this class, please contact the instructor and make appropriate arrangements
with Disability Services.
Cheating and Plagiarism. All individual written assignments and PowerPoint
presentations must be the student’s original work.
Disruptive Classroom Behavior. Academic misconduct by a student shall include, but not
be limited to: disrupting classes; giving or receiving unauthorized aid on examinations, reports or
other assignments; knowingly misrepresenting the source of any academic work; falsifying
research results; plagiarizing another’s work; violating regulations or ethical codes for the
treatment of human subjects; or otherwise acting dishonestly. If an instance of academic
misconduct is suspected, the student will be informed of the infraction and the penalty to be
imposed. If appropriate, the matter will be referred to the Department Chair and Dean of the
College for mediation. Potential sanctions include a warning, an admonition, censure, reduction
of grade (including a grade of F for the course), disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion.
Computers. Every student must have access to the internet and a computer in order to
obtain communications from the professor, download reading material and conduct document
searches of on-line publications.
Safety. This is an evening course. Students are encouraged to consult with SDSU public
safety regarding parking other safety issues.
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