Food Science, Obesity and Health

Duration

1 semester
Credits

6 ECTS | 3 US
Start date

Spring 2027 | January – April
Modality

On-campus
Languages

English

Food science: preventing obesity and improving health through nutrition.

Around the world, we find ourselves facing global epidemics of Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other predominantly diet-related diseases. There is strong evidence that global increases in the consumption of heavily processed foods, coupled with cultural shifts away from the preparation of food in the home, have contributed to high rates of preventable, chronic disease.

In this course, we will focus on the science of nutrients as cause and prevention of diet-related diseases and their impact on human health. We will learn how to eat to support our health, based on science.

We will have practical discussions about real food, the environment in which we consume it, and how it affects the way we eat. In addition, we will discuss recent advances in the food science and technology fields in health-supportive eating.

By the end of the course, we should have the tools we need to distinguish between the foods that support our health and those that threaten it, based on scientific grounds.

Number of credits: 6 ECTS / 3 US
Duration: 1 semester
Spring Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:10 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
You may enroll in a single course or several courses per semester.
Our courses are open to everyone; all applicants can enroll directly and will receive a Certificate of “Curso Superior Universitario” from the University of Barcelona upon successful course completion.

Experiential learning | Methodology

A key part of our mission at the Food Studies & Gastronomy Program is to provide students with immersive, hands-on learning as part of their study abroad experience.

We firmly believe that a study abroad experience strictly restricted to the four walls of a classroom makes no sense. That’s why our approach is rooted in experiential learning, an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience.

We capitalize on Barcelona’s local traditions and privileged landscapes to enrich our experiential learning methodology – our students learn in action, first-handedly taking in the city’s vibrant history and culture to stimulate their personal and academic growth while abroad.

All our courses include field studies and opportunities for hands-on learning, and we make sure to reference the world outside the classroom in every single class.

Here are just some of the field studies and experiential activities our courses can include: