Regulation of Food Intake and its Implications for Nutrition and Obesity International Advanced Course 10-13 April 2006 Wageningen, The Netherlands organised by the Graduate School VLAG, in co-operation with the Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Introduction

Background
In the Western societies, we see an increasing prevalence of obesity, in combination with an increasing supply of attractive reduced fat/sugar products for the consumer. There is also an increasing public health effort to counteract this trend.
The background for this apparent contradiction lies in the biology and psychology of the control of food intake and body weight, and its interaction with a growing obesogenic environment. During the last decade, there has been considerable progress in the understanding of various aspects of the control of food intake, such as the role of the central nervous system, satiety hormones, the composition of the diet, physical activity, and sensory preferences. We also know much more about the genes that are involved in the regulation of food intake and energy balance.
The regulation of food intake is an exciting and challenging area of research which is highly relevant for people interested in biology, nutrition, psychology, and health sciences. Knowledge of these developments is of crucial importance for people from the food industry dealing with nutrition.

Target group
The course is aimed at PhD students working in the field of food intake, and people from industry that are involved in this issue.

Course contents

Course aim
After the course participants should have a thorough overview on the current state of knowledge on the psychobiology of food intake in humans. All participants will be encouraged to introduce themselves and their work by presenting a poster during the course.

Course design
The course consists of a series of lectures, and includes an opportunity for presentations of the participants own work.

Programme topics

• Regulation of appetite and methodology of appetite research
• The physiology of food intake regulation, including glucose/insulin metabolism, and human gastro-intestinal physiology,
• What can we expect from pharmacological/dietary interventions
• Acquisition of food preferences and the role of early flavor experience for food preferences in adults
• State of the art with respect to the role of leptin and other hunger and satiety hormones in energy balance
• Energy balance in elderly
• Public health interventions to combat obesity
• Training, energy expenditure and energy balance: results from young adults, elderly and patients.
• Genetic background, behaviour and metabolic targets for weight maintenance
• The role of sensory factors in food intake
• The epidemiology of obesity,
• Glycemic index, insulin sensitivity and obesity
• Obesity and gene expression
• Genes and feeding behavior: neural regulation of energy balance
• Proving efficacy of weight loss products: an industrial perspective

Provisional programme

• The science of appetite control
• The satiety cascade
• Epidemiology of obesity
• The obesogenic environment
• Public health strategies to combat obesity
• Development of food preferences in infants
• Sensory satiety, food preferences and food intake
• Managing satiety from an industrial perspective
• Neural regulation of food intake
• Genes and feeding behaviour
• Obesity and gene expression
• Leptin, ghrelin, GLP-1, CCK and food intake
• Glycemic index and obesity
• Exercise and energy expenditure in young and elderly
• Energy balance in elderly

Organisation

Course coordinators

• Prof. C. de Graaf, Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology
• Mrs. Dr. M.S. Westerterp-Plantenga, Maastricht University, Human Biology
• Mrs. C. Doeswijk, Graduate School VLAG

Other faculty

• Dr. T.L.S. Visscher, Free University Amsterdam
• Prof. K.R. Westerterp, Maastricht University
• Dr. D. Mela, Unilever Food and Health Research Institute
• Dr. G. van Dijk, University of Groningen
• Prof. R. Adan, Utrecht University;
• Dr. S. Kersten, Wageningen University
• Mrs. Prof. C.P.G.M. de Groot, Wageningen University
• Dr. E.J.M. Feskens, Wageningen University
• Prof. J.E. Blundell, University of Leeds

General information

Date & duration
The course will be held from April 10 (starting at 14.00h) until April 13 (closure at 14.00h) 2006.

Study load
The study load of this course is 1.0 ECTS credits.

Language
The course is conducted in English.
Persons interested in taking this course should have a graduate level in nutrition/health sciences or a comparable background.

Location & accommodation
Lectures will be given at the Wageningen International Conference Centre (WICC).
For hotel accommodation, contact the WICC:
Phone: +31 317 490133, http://www.hofvanwageningen.nl/.
Please mention the course code: "Regulation06", when you make a hotel reservation. The costs of a single room including breakfast are € 71. Participants have to book their own room. Reservation after March 11 2006 will not guarantee accommodation

Contact information
More information about the course contents can be obtained from Prof. C. de Graaf.
E-mail: Kees.deGraaf@wur.nl
For organisational matters please contact Mrs C. Doeswijk: phone: +31-317-485143
E-mail: Chantal.Doeswijk@wur.nl

Registration & course fee

Please register by completing course registration form. The registration form must be returned before March 11, 2006. If the number of applicants exceeds the maximum of 30, selection will be necessary. You will be notified on acceptance of your registration and you will be sent instructions for payment, and further information after the deadline of registration.
The course fee is € 1200 (including lunches/tea/coffee and one course dinner). PhD-students not affiliated with the Graduate School VLAG will be charged € 300. Cancellations may be made free of charge until March 11, 2006. After this date the charge will be 25% of the fee paid or due. Substitutions may be made at any time.

Photos

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