Obesity

This newly established masters programme provides a broad and comprehensive curriculum that is clinically relevant and that also has a strong theoretical basis. Obesity is a major health problem, both for affected individuals and for society. There is a growing awareness of the need to provide effective treatments and prevention strategies. Our motivation in developing this programme at NUI Galway is two-fold: first, to inform better, evidence-based, compassionate and dignified care to patients affected by obesity and related disorders and second, to inform better population level strategies to mitigate the obesity epidemic. This two-pronged approach is a strong theme throughout the programme, reflected in the two distinct obesity modules that form part of the core learning. Our students will develop in-depth knowledge of the various therapeutic strategies available to patients and will understand the factors underlying variations in the obesity phenotype. Students will also appreciate the potential benefits and disadvantages of various population-level strategies that can be formulated to address the obesity crisis, and the societal, political and legislative challenges faced in deploying these.