Nutrition and Health: Macronutrients and Overnutrition

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Food plays a central role in our society but few people actually understand what it does to our bodies. Learn more about nutrition and how our diet profoundly impacts our current and future health. This introductory nutrition course addresses the relationship between nutrition and human health with a focus on health problems related to overnutrition.

In this course, Professor Sander Kersten from Wageningen University will introduce you to the chemistry of the three macronutrients fat, carbohydrate and protein. You will learn how macronutrients are absorbed, stored, and metabolized for energy, and you will gain a contemporary view of how different types of fats, carbohydrates and proteins affect human health. Moreover, the course will cover energy homeostasis and the regulation of bodyweight, and provides ample coverage of the topic of obesity. Finally, it will make you familiar with nutritional research and research methodologies.

For whom?

The MOOC Nutrition and Health: Macronutrients and Overnutrition is especially useful for health care professionals and people working in the food industry with a non-nutrition background. You will develop a critical mindset by learning to better weigh and interpret information about food, nutrition and health.

This course, is part of the Food, Nutrition and Health Professional Certificate Program of Wageningen University & Research. Did you already complete Nutrition and Health: Micronutrients and Malnutrition? That is the other course in the Food, Nutrition and Health Professional Certificate Program. To explore other learning opportunities about nutrition, have a look at the courses:

• Food Risks
• Human Microbiome
• Nutrition and Cancer
• Nutrition, Heart Disease and Diabetes

What you will learn

• Introduction to the field of food and nutritionComposition of foods
• Basic chemistry of carbohydrates, fat and protein
• How macronutrients are absorbed, stored and metabolized
• How macronutrients may impact health
• How to better weigh and interpret the information overload about nutrition and health

Skills you learn

• Written Composition
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Cancer
• Health Impact Assessments
• Malnutrition

Syllabus

Module 1: Basic Principles
In the first module you will be introduced into the basics of nutritional science
and you will learn about the different study designs that are used in nutrition
research.

Module 2: Carbohydrates
In this module you will be introduced to the basics of carbohydrates.

Module 3: Carbohydrates and Health (verified learner only)
In this module we will focus on the health effects of one specific group of
carbohydrates: sugar.

Module 4: Lipids
This module will teach you the basics of fats or lipids.

Module 5: Lipids and Health (verified learner only)
This module will start out by discussing cardiovascular (heart) disease and risk
factors for cardiovascular disease, and will go on to explore the effects of fatty acids
on cholesterol.

Module 6: Proteins and Health
The module starts with the basics of dietary protein, and will go on to address the
question of what specific health effects can be attributed to dietary protein.

Module 7: Energy homeostasis sand energy balance
In this module we will look at the balance between food (energy) intake and exergy
expenditure.

Module 8: Weight management
This module concentrates on weight management and the topic of obesity.

Module 9: Nutrition and Sports (verified learner only)
In this extra module we look at the impact of nutrition on exercise

Auto Summary

Discover the profound impact of diet on health with the introductory course, "Nutrition and Health: Macronutrients and Overnutrition," offered by Wageningen University & Research through edX. This foundational course, led by Professor Sander Kersten, delves into the chemistry of essential macronutrients – fats, carbohydrates, and proteins – and their roles in our bodies. Throughout the 20-hour course, you will explore how these macronutrients are absorbed, stored, and metabolized for energy. Gain insights into the effects of different types of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins on human health, and understand the complexities of energy homeostasis and body weight regulation, with a special focus on obesity. Additionally, the course covers contemporary nutritional research and methodologies, equipping you with the skills to critically assess information about food and health. Ideal for healthcare professionals and those in the food industry without a nutrition background, this course forms part of the comprehensive Food, Nutrition, and Health Professional Certificate Program. Enhance your knowledge and develop a discerning perspective on nutrition by enrolling in this professional-level course. For further learning, explore related courses on Food Risks, the Human Microbiome, Nutrition and Cancer, and Nutrition, Heart Disease, and Diabetes. Embark on this educational journey to better understand the crucial relationship between nutrition and health, and contribute to a healthier future.