Psychology and Eating Behavior

Code:

LCN3211

Acronym:

PSICOA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Social Science

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Nutrition Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CNUP	103	Official plan	3	-	3	28	81

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1. Identify different manifestations of binge eating.


2. Understand problematic eating behaviors (PEBs) and their relationship with the weight spectrum.


3. Analyze binge eating and its various behavioral manifestations.


4. Characterize the different Eating Disorders (EDs) and their diagnostic criteria.


5. Explore maintenance models of EDs in adults and children and their implications for nutritional management.


6. Understand the neurobiological mechanisms of binge eating, including the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA).


7. Familiarize with international guidelines for obesity treatment, including pharmacological and behavioral change strategies.


8. Develop skills in motivational interviewing to promote eating behavior change.


9. Assess PEBs and EDs using standardized instruments such as interviews and questionnaires.


10. Reflect on the impact of weight stigma in healthcare settings and treatment adherence.

Learning outcomes and competences

 

• Apply maintenance models of EDs and PEBs in the development of nutritional management plans.
• Identify and describe the main PEBs and their distribution across the weight spectrum.
• Develop intervention plans considering lifestyle changes and new pharmacological approaches.
• Use motivational interviewing techniques to facilitate eating behavior change.
• Administer and interpret interviews and questionnaires in the assessment of PEBs and EDs.
• Understand eating behavior as the result of psychological and neuro-metabolic factors.
• Manage cases with significant psychological comorbidities.
• Adopt a non-stigmatizing approach in the treatment of obesity.

 

 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Agreeing with the norms of the Faculty.

Program

• Problematic Eating Behaviors (PEBs) Across the Weight Spectrum.


• Maintenance Models of Eating Disorders (EDs) in Adults and Their Implications for Nutritional Management.


• Maintenance Models of Eating Disorders (EDs) in Children and Their Implications for Nutritional Management.


• Maintenance Models of PEBs in Obesity and Their Implications for Nutritional Management.


• The MGBA Axis and Binge Eating in Obesity.


• Guidelines for Obesity Treatment: A Psychological Perspective.


• Weight Stigma in Obesity Treatment.


• Motivational Interviewing for Behavioral Change and the Concept of "Best Weight."


• Assessment of PEBs and EDs: Interviews and Questionnaires.


• Lifestyle Changes in the New Pharmacological Era of Obesity Treatment.

Mandatory literature

Kevin Thompson; Body image, eating disorders, and obesity. ISBN: 1-55798-324-0
Timothy B. Walsh; Eating behavior in eating disorders. ISBN: 0-88048-163-3

Teaching methods and learning activities

In theoretical classes: Explanatory method, with the assistance of audiovisual media. In theoretical-practical classes: work to be undertaken in small groups, so as to explore research techniques used in the field of eating behavior and eating disorders, and to study subjects proposed by the teacher.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Behavioural sciences
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Clinical psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	30,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	1,00
Frequência das aulas	28,00
Trabalho escrito	8,00
Total:	37,00

Eligibility for exams

To obtain attendance, the student must be present in at least 75% of the classes and complete and present a practical group assignment during a class.

 

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade = Exam Grade * 0.6 + Practical Work Grade * 0.4

Examinations or Special Assignments

Practical works done in classes are mandatory, all the works proposed and for all students (including studant-workers and students wtih special needs). These works proposed in the begining of the semester have to be presented to classe.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Working studants or studants with special needs will prepare and present in the classes a practical work.

Classification improvement

Agreeing with the norms of FCNAUP.