Course
Energy metabolism and body composition in nutrition and health research
Advanced course on Energy metabolism and body composition in nutrition and health research

Background
Changes in energy balance result in weight gain or loss and changes in body composition. And disturbances in energy metabolism like mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic inflexibility are linked to metabolic health and chronic diseases. Both diet and physical activity can affect energy metabolism and energy balance.
Target group
The course is aimed at research professionals (PhD level) who are at the start of their career in nutritional or health sciences, or other scientists who want to become familiar with the field of Energy metabolism and Body composition in nutrition and health research. Participants should have a background in biology, medicine, food/nutritional science, or other life sciences and should have basic knowledge of human biology, physiology and nutrition.
Course aim
The aim of this course is to
- provide a solid scientific background on aspects of energy metabolism and health at the physiological level, with – this year – particular attention for dietary protein
- provide an overview of state-of-the-art in vivo methods to measure body composition and energy expenditure in humans, with some practical experience with analysis of physical activity data
Course design
The course comprises three days (Monday 10.00 – Wednesday 15.00hrs.). The course consists of a series of lectures, supported by a computer-assisted exercise. As part of the programme the opportunity will be provided to discuss participant’s own research (plans).
The focus of this year's course is on dietary protein, more specifically different aspects of dietary proteins in relation to human function and health.
Participants are encouraged to apply for a short oral presentation or a pitch. An abstract should be send to Dr. Marco Mensink before 1 February 2016. Six abstracts will be selected and included as part of the programme (‘master class’)
Programme topics
The following topics will be addressed:
- energy metabolism, mitochondrial function and health
- energy balance and physical activity
- methods to assess energy expenditure (e.g. DLW, accelerometry) and body composition (e.g. kinantropometry and imaging)
- protein metabolism and protein requirements
- protein and sports, and protein and ageing
Download programme
Organisation
Course coordinators
- Dr Marco Mensink, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University
Dr Arie Nieuwenhuizen, Human and Animal Physiology Group, Wageningen University
Dr Guy Plasqui, Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University
Other faculty
- Prof Daniel Tomé, AgroParisTech, Paris, France and visiting professor Wageningen University
- Prof Luc van Loon, Maastricht University
- Prof Lisette de Groot, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University
Date & duration
The course will be held from Monday 7 March starting at 9:30 hrs until Wednesday 9 March, 15.00 hrs.
Study load
The study load of this course is 1.0 ECTS credits.
Language
The course language will be English.
Contact information
More information about the contents of the course can be obtained from Dr Marco Mensink:
email: Marco.Mensink@wur.nl
For organisational matters please contact
Mrs. Y.H.M. Smolders, phone: +31-317-485108 (Yvonne.Smolders@wur.nl).
Location & accommodation
The course venue is Conference Centre Hof van Wageningen (www.hofvanwageningen.nl).
The town of Wageningen is 5 km from Ede-Wageningen railway station, with transport options being taxi or bus. Ede-Wageningen railway station is about one and a half hours from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. For train schedules visit: www.ns.nl.
The organisation has blocked a number of hotel rooms at “Hof van Wageningen” for course participants, but only until 25 January 2016. Accommodation costs are € 75,- (single room; incl. breakfast, excl. tax) per night. You can visit: http://www.hofvanwageningen.nl/ for more information.
Participants have to book their own hotel room by sending an email: info@hofvanwageningen.nl (do not book your room via the Hof van Wageningen website).
Please mention booking code EM16.
Registration & course fee
To be able to fill in the registration form, you need a "VLAG-events account".
To create this account, please click here: create account.
If you already have a "VLAG-events account" you can directly go to the course registration form.
The final registration date is 7 February 2016.
Registrations are accepted in the order in which the registration form and course fee payment are received.
Applicants will be informed of acceptance of their registration before 5 February. They will then receive instructions for payment, and further course details. Cancellations may be made free of charge until 7 February 2016. After this date the charge will be 25 % of the course fee already paid or due. Substitutions for participants may be made until the start of the course.
The course fee (which includes materials, coffee/tea during breaks, lunches and one dinner but does not cover accommodation) depends on the participant's affiliation:
PhD candidates affiliated with VLAG | € 185 |
PhD candidates | € 400 |
University staff / Non -Profit | € 600 |
Industry / For-Profit | € 1200 |
Cancellations may be made free of charge within 6 weeks after registration but before 19 December 2016. After this date the charge will be 25 % of the fee paid or due. Substitutions may be made at any time.