Option A: Eating Behaviours

This module will provide you with a detailed exploration of the key contemporary theoretical and methodological issues involved in the study of eating behaviours. You will discuss ‘normal’ eating patterns, which attempts to explain why a given food is accepted or rejected, how we chose what quantity of food is eaten over a period of time or in a single meal episode, and whether we ‘mindlessly’ eat or make conscious decisions. This will also be compared to non-clinical disordered eating (e.g. restricted eating, emotional eating, selective eaters).

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an ability to review and reflect upon the different perspectives taken in the study of eating behaviours
• Demonstrate an understanding of the key theoretical and methodological issues involved in the study of eating behaviours in children and adults
• Demonstrate the ability to review research literature and to identify suitable research questions.

Topics covered may include:

• Eating behaviours adults and children
• Food neophobia across lifespan
• Picky / fussy eating and prolonged fussy eating
• Psychological and biological factors involved in ingestive behaviour
• Portion-size selection
• Restricted, emotional, external eating
• Healthy vs. unhealthy eating.