340.691.01
The Role of Physical Activity in Shaping Public Health and Well-being
Location
East Baltimore
Term
4th Term
Department
Epidemiology
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2025 - 2026
Instruction Method
In-person
M, W, 1:30 - 2:50pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
Yes
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Resources
Prerequisite
Introduction to Epidemiology (Fundamentals Epidemiology or 340.601, 340.721, 340.751, or 340.761)
Enrollment Restriction
This course is not restricted.
Engaging in physical activity is paramount to health and wellness throughout life but how do we know physical activity is good for us?
How do we measure daily physical activity and do physical activity interventions work? Let's find out.
Explores the established associations between physical activity and clinical health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and physical and cognitive functional decline in older populations. Compares and contrasts historical and current methods of physical activity assessment (subjective and objective) and how these methods have been used to derive the current physical activity CDC recommendations. Focuses primarily on the problem of measurement and the use of technology to assess physical activity in the clinical and research settings.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the health benefits of physical activity, from neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and metabolic viewpoints
- Identify the challenges of measuring physical activity, and the pros and cons of subjective and objective measurement tools
- Discuss the epidemiology of physical activity, specifically from classic studies such as the London bus drivers' study, NHANES, and the LIFE study
- Examine the role of technology in monitoring physical activity
- Compare and contrast the known benefits of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with the lesser known benefits of daily patterns of physical activity, and the potential dangers of sedentary behavior
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
- 10% Participation
- 25% Group Presentation
- 25% Project(s)
- 20% Midterm
- 20% Final Exam