Agenda

Course: Nutritional and Lifestyle Epidemiology (11th Edition)

Nutritional and lifestyle factors are modifiable risk factors with a potentially great public health impact. Epidemiology offers both the conceptual framework and the scientific instruments required for studying causal diet-health relationships by adequately designed and properly conducted preventive research. In addition, epidemiology provides a framework for appraising, summarising and integrating the available evidence. Moreover, nutritional epidemiology provides a logical model starting from nutrient exposure through dietary patterns, via biomarkers of intake, status and function, to intermediate and -eventually- “hard” health endpoints. Systematic literature search, meta-analysis and modelling approaches, are becoming increasingly important to better describe and evaluate the diverse and fragmented evidence base underlying dietary recommendations and policy decisions. In its research and teaching programme on nutrition and health the Graduate School VLAG seeks to advance knowledge and expertise in this important area of public health nutrition.

Target group The course will attract epidemiologists, nutritionists, public health professionals, health care professionals and physicians with some years of research experience. Participants should be familiar with the basic concepts of nutrition and epidemiology.