PGDip Obesity and Weight Management

Overweight and obesity have been associated with physiological and psychological ill health and a number of links have been demonstrated for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome and depression. During the Covid-19 crisis there have also been emerging links between excess weight, obesity and the risk and severity of the infection.

Personal costs of overweight and obesity, but also costs to the health and wider economy, are substantial and growing on an annual basis. The management of excess weight and prevention of obesity is therefore an important tool in the kit of improving public health with diet, nutrition, exercise and behaviour change techniques. Students will also develop an increasing awareness of societal perspectives on obesity and weight management strategies and policies.

This course provides advanced-level education, continuous professional development and training for those already holding or seeking roles in obesity prevention, weight management, health promotion, public health and related areas. Topics covered in the programme include latest developments in public health and obesity prevention strategies, diet and nutrition, exercise, psychology and behaviour change, and research methods. We also include a number of practical and problem-based sessions in our teaching and assessments to give students hands-on experience in assessing body composition (anthropometrics), dietary intake and physical activity, devising and analysing recipes and meal plans and delivering weight management consultations.

Our students conduct their own Master's research project under the guidance of experienced and competent personal supervisors. These projects can where possible be conducted internationally or within a student’s workplace.

In addition to this we involve our students in wider events and opportunities at the university where possible to enhance the student experience and support them with gaining a wider range of transferable skills. This includes blog posts such as Bryn’s Story and Colm’s Story

The Obesity and Weight Management programme was the first programme to run in the UK with a focus on managing excess weight and treating obesity, and we have been building on our strengths and experience ever since. It is delivered by our team of teaching experts who are nutrition, dietetic, exercise, public health, behaviour change and research specialists. In addition, we invite a range of obesity and weight management professionals into sessions to deliver guest lectures and practical sessions within their area of expertise, adding to the currency and relevancy of the course content. In the past these have included practitioners with their own weight management clinics, experts in client profiling, staff members of child measurement programmes, experts in maternal obesity and members of national NGOs reporting on their practice amongst others.

Due to an increasing awareness amongst governments of the importance of preventing and managing excess weight, entering this Master's-level programme is an opportune time to gain advanced knowledge and skills to become a professional within the workforce meeting this growing demand. As recently as March 2021, the United Kingdom government announced additional funding for weight management services to address the increasing public health issue of overweight and obesity. Whilst this is an ongoing problem, over the next few years it can be expected that services across the UK and indeed in other nations will be enhanced. The growing demand of preventing and managing obesity needs to be met by professionals with the right level of expertise.