2023

Physiology of Feeding Behavior

Name: Physiology of Feeding Behavior
Code: CMS11484L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Provide basic knowledge about the physiological bases of eating behavior, namely about its regulation and how changes in this regulation can be related to pathologies such as eating behavior disorders, obesity and diabetes, among others.

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

1. To provide the knowledge about what is and which factors regulate eating behavior and energy balance, in order to understand changes in intake patterns in physiological states and diseases related to changes in metabolism. 2. To develop the ability for searching information and for using the learning platform Moodle online.
At the end students should be able to: understand the various factors that contribute to the regulation of eating behavior and how they interact; to relate metabolic alterations (normal and pathological) with the potential changes in intake and energy balance; to identify and to choose the best methodology and / or animal model for using in ingestive behavior studies with specific purposes; to communicate the results through the writing of practical reports, to critical analyze articles and other scientific texts.

Contents

Teorethical
1.Introduction to eating behaviour: concepts and evolution of food regimens
2.Anatomophysiology of digestion
3.Control of energetic metabolism: nervous and endocrine systems
4.Hunger, appetite and satiety: the role of neuropeptides and peripheral signals
5.Taste physiology and its role in ingestion
6.Methods of analysis and animal models in the study of eating behaviour
7.Eating behaviour during life: pregnancy and lactation, newborn, childhood and adolescence, elderly
8.Eating disorders
9.Metabolic diseases: diabetes, obesity.

Practical
1.Structures involved in ingestion control: microscopic observation of ingestive and digestive organs; immunostaining of neuropeptides.
2.Biochemical evaluation of appetite/satiety signals in different physiological states.
3.Ingestive behavior: microstructural analysis studies, instruments for measuring food intake in humans.
4.Changes in ingestive behavior in animal models of malnutrition and metabolic diseases.

Teaching Methods

Structured presentation in theoretical classes. Execution of practical work, its presentation and discussion. Analysis and discussion of research articles.
Continuous assessment: two written tests including practical subjects.
Exam regime: written theoretical exam at the end of the semester, including practical subjects.

Continuous assessment and/or exam: 70%
Practical work, individually or in groups, resulting in written elements and respective oral discussion: 30%