Nutrition for Health and Sustainability (FutureLearn)

Learn what makes up a healthy, sustainable diet and how certain food types can help to treat and prevent disease. Explore the relationship between health, nutrition, and sustainability. Diet is the biggest single risk factor for preventable diseases in the world and a key driver of diabetes, heart disease, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). On this course, you’ll look at what makes up a healthy diet, and see what types of foods play a crucial part in preventing diseases and improving wellbeing.

Enroll in course

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Investigate the potential causes of unhealthy eating patterns

Currently, a key obstacle to medical professionals playing a stronger role in food systems transformation is their lack of training in nutrition. If medical doctors had better knowledge of the link between food, health, nutrition, and sustainability, then they could play an active role in transforming our food system.

You’ll build your understanding of the relationship between food and disease. You’ll also reflect on the possible biological, social, and psychological causes of unhealthy eating patterns, and interpret the importance of evidence-based nutrition.

Discover the importance of a sustainable diet

You’ll explore different forms of sustainable diet and how to apply current health guidelines to different groups of people based on their current life stage and health.

By understanding the link between food, nutrition, diets, and sustainability, you’ll be able to effectively assess human health at different life stages.
Understand the diagnosis, management, and treatment of NCDs

By interpreting and analysing evidence-based nutrition reports, you’ll be able to identify which foods are essential to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, as well as which ingredients can help treat and prevent various diseases. You’ll also develop skills to have conversations with people about improving their diet for health benefit.

Syllabus

Week 1: Why do we need to rethink our diets?

Week 2: The role of diet in health

Week 3: Sustainable diet for healthy humans and planet
What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Identify healthy diets and dietary patterns

- Reflect on the possible causes (biological, social, psychological) of unhealthy eating patterns

- Explore the current healthy guidelines and understand how they can be applied to different population groups

- Identify how and which types of foods are essential for health and wellbeing and play an important role in treating/preventing disease.

- Explore the relationship between food, nutrition, diets and human health at different life stages

- Develop motivational interviewing skills