Sander Kersten, Ph.D. is the director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the Schleifer Family Professor at Cornell University. Dr. Kersten received his MSc degree in Human Nutrition from Wageningen University , Netherlands in 1993, and his Ph.D. degree in Nutritional Biochemistry from Cornell University in 1997. After a postdoctoral stay in the laboratory of Dr. Walter Wahli at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, he moved back to Wageningen University in 2000 with a career development grant from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was appointed to Associate Professor in 2006 and Full Professor in 2011. In 2014 he became Chair of the Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics group and in 2019 Chairman of the Division of Human Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University. In January 2024, he moved back to Ithaca as the director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences.
Course Overview
Health is an intricate and multi-dimensional concept that encompasses more than just the absence of illness. It involves physical, mental, and social well-being, and it varies in definition across cultures and medical disciplines. Metabolism, on the other hand, refers to the biochemical processes that occur within living organisms to maintain life. In this course, you will examine metabolism and its role in energy balance, homeostasis, and the body's response to dietary intake and physical activity. You will discover metabolism's significance to an individual's overall health.
You will explore how metabolic health specifically addresses the body's efficiency in managing metabolic processes and coping with stressors such as diet, exercise, and sleep. You will also consider how the absence of conditions like obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension can be indicators of metabolic health.
Key Course Takeaways
- Explore the dimensions of human health
- Define and evaluate different descriptions of metabolism
- Identify metabolic health
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Who Should Enroll
- Dietitians
- Nutritionists
- Community and public health workers
- Health educators, coaches, and holistic providers
- Wellness coordinators, consultants, and nutrition program managers
- Sports medical professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, fitness trainers, and managers
- Social media influencers
- Science writers
- Anyone interested in personal wellness and living a healthier life
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