Course Description
The mechanisms involved in regulating food intake and energy balance. Nutritional, endocrine, genetic, and epigenetic processes and their impact on obesity will be covered. Specific attention will be given to human obesity.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will have different exams than undergraduates
in order to document their ability to analyze research-based
information. Graduate students will also be required to do one
of the following to further document their advanced skills in
critical reading and writing: 1) present to the class a
research-based overview of a selected topic or a case study
(encouraged for M.S. students), or 2) write a research-based
paper using their thesis/dissertation (encouraged for Ph.D.
students). Graduate students will also be asked to prepare a
referee report of an unpublished paper.
Athena Title
Metab and Physio Ener Bal Obes
Undergraduate Prerequisite
NUTR 3100 or permission of department
Graduate Prerequisite
NUTR 6400 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will learn the different processes involved in regulating body weight, understand the complexity and redundancy of energy homeostasis control, and be aware of the different challenges posed by obesity. Students will develop their academic and professional toolkit, which includes critical reading and writing and presentation skills.
Topical Outline
Obesity definition and demographic worldwide and in the U.S. Health implications of obesity, consequences of excessive body weight, and chronic conditions Regulatory mechanism of macronutrient homeostasis Regulation of meal size, gut-brain axis, and GI originating signals (including taste) Reward system, emotional eating, and food addiction Adipose tissue biology, leptin and adiponectin, inflammation, and brown adipose tissue Biochemistry of endocrine factors, interaction long- and short- term signals, circadian cycle Regulatory genes and epigenetic factors Exercise and energy balance Obesity and immune system, chronic inflammation The role of the microflora The challenge of childhood obesity Pharmacological and surgical treatment of obesity
Syllabus