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Provide justification of why Type 2 diabetes is an important public health issue

6HW160 – Epidemiology Assignment – 2025-6

A colleague wants to design a study to test the hypothesis that switching to a vegan diet can reverse Type 2 diabetes in obese individuals. You have been asked to design a suitable study to test this hypothesis.

You will need to include the following Sections in your assignment:

1. Introduction (approx. 1,000 words; 30 marks)

a) Provide justification of why Type 2 diabetes is an important public health issue. 

b) Describe the epidemiology of Type 2 diabetes and discuss how this can impact on health, both in the UK and in another named country of your choice.  

Note - You will need to search for appropriate epidemiological information for this Section.

2. Design your methodology (approx. 800 Words; 30 marks)

Include the following headings:

a) Type of study – select one type of epidemiological study

b) Population – what type(s) of people you will study

c) Setting – where they will physically be studied

d) Sampling – methods that will be used to select your participants

e) Data – what data will be used and how it will be collected

f) Procedures – describe the details of how your study will be carried out

g) Analysis – what type(s) of statistical analysis will be carried out

h) Outcome(s) – how you will know whether Type 2 diabetes has been reversed

3. Provide justification of your methodology choices (approx. 1,200 words; 30 marks)

Explain the reasons for your choices for each heading in Section 2.  

Support your choices using references to appropriate research methods texts.

4. References (10 marks)

A minimum of 30 references are required in this assignment

3,000 words. Weighting: 100% of total marks.

Submission

To be submitted by 13:59 hrs on Thursday 8th January 2026.

Submission for Easter Resits

If you are unsuccessful in your first attempt or are granted extenuating circumstances, then you will be expected to submit your work by 13:59 hrs on Monday 13th April 2026.

Third opportunity - submission for Summer Resits

To be submitted by 13:59 hrs on Monday 6th July 2026.

Please note there are no automatic extensions, or any extensions granted for the resubmission period, including students with SEC requirements.

Learning Outcomes:

  1. To understand the scope of epidemiology
  2. To demonstrate epidemiological methodological and statistical skills
  3. To apply epidemiological concepts to public health issues  

Marking Criteria

Section

Marks

Section 1: (approx. 1,000 words)

Introduction: 

The Introduction includes a brief justification of why Type 2 diabetes is an important public health issue. (10 marks)

The epidemiology of Type 2 diabetes is described, and there is discussion about how this can impact on health, both in the UK and in another chosen named country. (20 marks)

30

Section 2: (approx. 800 words)

Methodology:

Discussion uses the headings (a) – (h) in Section 2.

30

Section 3: (approx. 1,200 words)

Justification for the methodology:

Reasons are explained for choices for each heading (a) – (h) in Section 2.

This section MUST be referenced using appropriate research methods texts.

30

Section 4: (no word count)

References:

Harvard referencing correctly used throughout.
All articles and research studies included in this work should be referenced.

Use a minimum of 30 references for this assignment.

Language and Formatting

A clear & simple writing style, with no formatting, typing, spelling or grammatical errors. The work is coherently organised according to the marking criteria.

10

University Performance Descriptors Level 6

Marks

Description

90-100% Outstanding

Exceptional level of analysis, showing deep critical engagement with a comprehensive range of contextual material.
Demonstration of independent thought resulting in highly original or creative responses to the assignment.

Provision of clear evidence of understanding of current scholarship and research based on an extensive range of relevant sources.
Extreme clarity of structure demonstrating complete focus of argument.
No obvious errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

80-89% Excellent

Excellent links between relevant ideas, theories and practice.
Evidence of clearly independent scholarship and the ability to engage critically and analytically with a wide range of contextually relevant resource material.
Demonstration of original insights supported by extremely well-structured overall argument. Very few errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

70-79% Very Good

Very good links between a range of different ideas and theories. Places issues in a wider context. Evidence of clear understanding of a range of relevant theories and application of these appropriately. Independent ideas well-argued and supported. Few errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

60-69% Good

Clear links between theory and practice. Good coverage of assignment issues. Full understanding of core issues. Evidenced level of understanding of appropriate theory and concepts. Some small repeated errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

50-59% Competent

Identifies main issues and relevant theory. Coverage of most of assignment issues. Competent application of relevant theory and states obvious links to practice. Some repeated errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

40-49% Pass

Makes few links between theory and practice. Answers question in a very basic way. Describes relevant theory accurately, and some relevant ideas offered.
Limited coherence of structure.

30-39% Fail

Some learning outcomes and / or assessment criteria not met. Inadequate content with issues not addressed; insufficient evidence of understanding of relevant theory and concepts and only partial understanding shown. Very limited application of theory. Use of extensive quoted passages is evident. Evidence of sufficient grasp of learning outcomes to suggest that the student will be able to retrieve the module on resubmission.

20-29% Fail

No learning outcomes fully met. No demonstration of adequate knowledge or understanding of key concepts or theories. There is no recognition of the complexity of the subject.

10-19% Fail

Little attempt to engage with assignment brief and has not met learning outcomes. Inadequate demonstration of knowledge or understanding of key concepts, theories or practice.

0-9%

No real attempt to address the assignment brief or learning outcomes.

 

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About 6HW160 Epidemiology Assignment

6HW160 – Epidemiology is an assignment that asks you to use what you have learned about study design and apply it to a real health problem: Type 2 diabetes in obese adults. Instead of just describing theory, you have to plan a full epidemiological study that tests whether switching to a vegan diet can reverse Type 2 diabetes. You will start by explaining why Type 2 diabetes is an important public health issue, then describe its pattern (who is affected, where and how) in the UK and one other country. You also need to use proper epidemiological data to support what you say, not just opinion.

After this, you will design and justify your own study. You will choose one type of epidemiological study, define your study population, explain the setting, sampling methods, data collection, procedures, analysis and how you will decide whether diabetes has been reversed. In the final part, you will explain why you chose each method, using research methods textbooks and journal articles to support your decisions. Overall, the 6HW160 Epidemiology Assignment is testing whether you can think like a public health researcher: link a clear hypothesis to a suitable study design, use evidence properly and write in a structured, academic way.

Sample Answer

a) Why Type 2 diabetes is an important public health issue

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition where the body does not use insulin properly, or cannot make enough of it. This leads to high blood sugar, which slowly damages blood vessels and organs over many years. It is mainly linked to lifestyle factors such as excess weight, unhealthy diet and low physical activity, but genetics and social conditions also play a part.

Globally, diabetes is now one of the major non-communicable diseases. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that about 589 million adults aged 20–79 are living with diabetes in 2024, and this is expected to increase to 853 million by 2050. Over 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, so this form of the disease drives most of the problem. Diabetes was responsible for about 3.4 million deaths in 2024, and it is a major contributor to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. People with Type 2 diabetes often live for many years with poor health, disability and frequent contact with health services, which makes it a central public health concern rather than just an individual medical issue.

The impact is not only on health, but also on money and services. The IDF estimates that diabetes accounts for around 1 trillion US dollars in health spending worldwide each year. In the UK, recent work has suggested that diabetes cost almost £14 billion in 2021/22, including about £10.7 billion in direct costs to the NHS and £3.3 billion in lost productivity and other indirect costs. Around 60% of these NHS costs are linked to complications that could often have been prevented with earlier and better care. This level of spending means that any effective public health action that prevents, improves or reverses Type 2 diabetes could release significant resources for other services.

Type 2 diabetes is also strongly connected to social inequalities. In many countries, including the UK, it is more common in deprived communities and in some ethnic minority groups. People in these groups are more likely to have risk factors such as obesity, limited access to healthy food, insecure work and restricted access to early health checks. This means Type 2 diabetes can widen existing health gaps between richer and poorer groups.

Another key reason why Type 2 diabetes matters for public health is that it is, to a large extent, preventable and sometimes reversible. The main risk factors – excess body weight, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and smoking – can be changed through individual and population-level action. Evidence from weight-loss and lifestyle programmes shows that intensive diet and activity changes can delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes in high-risk people, and can even lead to remission in some people who already have the condition. NHS England+1 However, questions remain about which specific diet patterns are most effective and realistic in everyday life.

Because obesity is a major driver of Type 2 diabetes, and because food environments are changing rapidly, public health teams are increasingly interested in dietary patterns rather than just “eat less sugar” messages. Vegan diets are typically high in fibre and low in saturated fat, and may support weight loss and better blood sugar control. Testing whether a vegan diet can reverse Type 2 diabetes in obese adults is therefore directly relevant to public health: if it works and is acceptable to patients, it could be used as a structured, non-drug option to reduce complications, improve quality of life and ease pressure on the NHS and other health systems.

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