Nutrition through the lifespan is a critical and cutting edge area of study in contemporary psychology.
Research increasingly indicates towards the role of diet and lifestyle in optimum cognitive
functioning, in optimum bio-psycho-social health and in a productive economic life.
The course titled, ‘Nutrition and Lifespan’ introduces the students of psychology to these critical
interdisciplinary domains of nutrition, diet, ill health and optimum functioning of persons,
through pregnancy till old age. The students are introduced to basic concepts of nutrition and
its inter-linkage to the physiological systems in the body, that enable absorption and circulation
and use of micro-nutrients for optimum functioning of the body. The role of context- including
agro-climatic and geographical context has influenced food cultures throughout the human history.
Some of the culture and eco-contextual characteristics are introduced to the students. Finally,
nutrition and its intersections with stages of lifespan are taken for a detailed discussion.
The students are expected to familiarize themselves with the integration of nutrition in Lifespan
development and apply it in other areas of professional specializations such as counseling and
clinical psychology, health psychology and and social psychology
- Teacher: Anjaly Renjan