HHS 435: Obesity and the Lifecourse

Course Description

This course aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of the lifecourse perspective on health, while using “obesity” as a unifying example to illustrate its theoretical linkages to individual and population health, the practical implications for the administration and financing of the health care system, and for framing policy options. The course highlights the differential impact of obesity on (1) the health and socioeconomic achievement of individuals at various stages in the lifecourse; (2) the population health and economic needs or opportunities, as derived from the lifecourse profile of a specific population (i.e., age distribution and aging trends) and in the context of a changing structure of society; and (3) the demand for healthcare services and other stressors on the healthcare system. The course identifies the rationale, goals, scope, design, and potential for successful implementation of obesity-reducing policy interventions at different points during the lifecourse. (W).