• Purdue logo

Brain and Behavior: Regulating Body Weight

Explore the environmental and biological factors that influence our appetite and food choices, and regulate our body weight.

25,631 enrolled on this course

Brain and Behavior: Regulating Body Weight
  • Duration3 weeks
  • Weekly study4 hours
Overview
Topics
Requirements
Educators
More courses

Other courses you might like

This course isn't running right now. We can email you when it starts again, or check out these other courses you might like.

Explore the environmental and biological factors that regulate our body weight.

Many complex factors are involved in the regulation of body weight and control of food intake. This course explores how body weight is influenced by external and internal stimuli, and how these stimuli interact or influence one another. By the end of the course you will be able to discuss the meaning of energy homeostasis, describe the physiological factors that influence hunger and fullness, explain how environmental stimuli influence eating, and summarize how our genes interact with the environment to influence body weight.

What topics will you cover?

The course explored how our body weight is influenced by:

  • Environmental factors
  • Social factors
  • Learned behaviors
  • Biological factors
  • Central nervous system
  • Hormonal influence
  • Genetic influence and genetic disorders
  • Gene-environment interaction

What will you achieve?

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

  • Discuss the meaning of homeostasis
  • Describe the physiological factors that influence hunger and fullness
  • Explain how environmental stimuli influence eating
  • Summarise how our genes interact with the environment to influence body weight

Who is the course for?

This course is suitable for everyone from individuals interested in learning more about their personal health to those with a background in basic biological processes who what to expand their knowledge. No prior experience or qualifications is necessary.

Who will you learn with?

Kimberly Kinzig

Kimberly Kinzig is a member of the Psychological Sciences faculty at Purdue University. Her research examines the neuroendocrinology of obesity, eating disorders, and their effects on behavior.

Who developed the course?

Purdue University

One of the four best public universities in the US, Purdue delivers an engaging learning experience and a world-class degree.