Your final exam is on May 7th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
About 70-80% of the questions
on your final test will be on the following topics: Energy Balance and Weight Control,
Vitamins, and Minerals. The remaining 20-30% of the questions on your final exam will be
on Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10. (refer to earlier test topics for these chapters).
Ch. 7. Energy Balance and Weight Control
1. Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity in the US.
2. Define energy balance and describe situations when positive and negative energy balance are
required.
3. Describe how the energy content of food is assessed.
4. Identify the different components of energy expenditure and their contribution to total energy
expenditure.
5. Define each component of energy expenditure and the factors that influence them, and
understand how to calculate BMR.
6. Describe the direct and indirect methods of assessing energy expenditure and the advantages
and limitations of each method.
7. Understand how to calculate BMI. Identify the BMI cutoff points for optimal, overweight,
and obesity categories and discuss the relationship between these categories and health.
Describe the limitation of BMI. Describe how BMI correlates to percent body fat and waist
circumference.
8. Identify the information you need (e.g., weight, age, height, etc.) to calculate the estimated
energy requirement. Do not memorize the long equation but understand how it works.
9. Identify the body fat cutoff points for obesity in men and women.
10. Describe the different body fat assessment techniques including the procedure, principle,
limitations, and factors to take into account to increase accuracy.
11. Define upper- and lower-body fat distribution including how to assess it, the factors that
increase the likelihood of a certain type of fat distribution, and the relationship between body
fat distribution and chronic disease including the mechanisms.
12. Explain the role of nature, nurture, and nature and nurture together in the development of
obesity; refer to the studies discussed in class.
13. Describe the mechanisms that cause resistance to weight loss; explain resistance to weight
gain.
14. Explain the mechanisms behind rapid weight loss; describe the recommended weight loss
goals.
15. Understand the equation for calorie reduction and weight loss.
16. Describe the dietary and physical activity guidelines for weight loss.
17. Discuss the factors that help with weight maintenance.
18. Describe the behavior modification techniques for weight loss and maintenance.
19. Describe very-low-calorie diets and the effect on weight loss and possible side effects, and
the need for medical supervision.
20. Describe the impact of drug therapy on weight loss, the way they work, side effects, and
precautions needed.
21. Describe the bariatric surgery procedures, eligibility criteria, effect on weight loss and co-
morbidities, mechanisms of weight loss, and potential problems and how to address them.
22. Identify the factors that help to recognize a fad diet.
23. Identify the mechanisms behind weight loss on high-protein, low carbohydrate diets, and the
possible long-term effects of such diets.
24. Read the articles.
25. Identify the factors that help to recognize a fad diet.
26. Identify the mechanisms behind weight loss on high-protein, low carbohydrate diets, and the
possible long-term effects of such diets.
27. Read the articles.
Vitamins
1. Identify fat soluble and water soluble vitamins.
2. Identify ways to preserve vitamins in foods.
3. Describe the function of a vitamin coenzyme.
4. For each vitamin, describe the major functions, deficiency and toxicity symptoms (when
given), rich food sources, the factors that affect synthesis of the vitamin (applies to certain
vitamins only), who is most likely to become deficient, and the reasons for increased needs
for athletes or older persons (when given).
5. Understand the production and action of free radicals and the role of antioxidants in
preventing CVD and cancers.
6. Discuss the impact of mega doses of antioxidant supplements on CVD, cancer, and vision.
7. Cancer: define cancer, benign growth, malignant growth, and metastasis. Describe the
relative role of genes and lifestyle in cancer, the three stages of the cancer process including
what happens in each stage and the influencing factors and the mechanisms. Explain how
obesity increases a number of different types of cancers.
8. Read the articles.
Minerals:
1. Describe the factors that influence percent body water; describe how intracellular and
extracellular water is controlled; describe water functions; describe how the body conserves
water when thirsty; describe fluid needs and the types of fluids recommended.
2. Describe heat exhaustion, heat cramp, and heat stroke including situations in which they are
most likely to occur, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
3. Discuss the fluid needs of athletes; describe how fluid loss can be monitored and addressed;
discuss the advantages of sports drinks versus water.
4. Identify and define major and trace minerals.
5. For each mineral: describe the major functions; describe rich food sources; describe factors
that affect absorption and excretion; describe deficiency and toxicity symptoms; describe
who is most likely to become deficient or end up with toxicity and why; compare American
intake to required amount (when given); describe diagnosis of deficiency (when given);
describe strategies for treatment or prevention of deficiency diseases (when given); describe
the reasons for increased requirements of certain minerals for some individuals including
older persons and athletes; describe the pros and cons of different types of Ca supplements;
describe the health benefits/problems with mega doses of certain supplements.
6. Describe the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in the US; define SBP, DBP, normotensive,
hypertensive, and “silent disorder”; explain the health consequences of hypertension; discuss
the causes of HTN; explain the mechanisms behind how obesity, inactivity, excess alcohol
consumption, and excess sodium consumption increases blood pressure; describe the
strategies to treat and prevent HTN including the DASH diet.
7. Describe the consequences of osteoporosis; describe assessment and diagnosis of bone
strength; describe the factors that influence peak bone mass formation; describe the role of
the different types of bone cells in bone turnover and health; describe the role of aging in
bone turnover; describe the risk factors for osteoporosis (including the mechanisms);
describe the strategies to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
8. Read the articles.
