Nutrition for Metabolic Health Course 2

What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It

If everyone needs energy and nutrients from food, why are our experiences with eating so vastly different?

What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It dives deep into what influences food intake and eating behavior—and how to regulate those factors to help anyone reach their health and fitness goals.

  • Learn to work with, rather than against, natural systems of appetite and hunger regulation—to help clients address challenges and get on the right track
  • Develop transformational coaching action plans that account for the multitude of factors that influence your clients’ appetite and hunger
  • Get expert tools, worksheets, and assessments to uncover what your clients are doing right, where they’re struggling, and how to help anyone look, feel, and perform better
  • Earn Continuing Education Credits (CECs)
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PN Nutrition for Metabolic Health Course 2

WHO IT’S FOR

Nutrition professionals who want to further develop their coaching skills—along with those who simply want a deeper dive into this topic.

COURSE LENGTH

This course is entirely self-paced, and the material can be covered in detail in about 9-15 total hours.

icon_online_2 FORMAT

100% online. Access the course materials from any device, at any time, through your online Precision Nutrition dashboard.

100% GUARANTEE

Try the entire course for 45 days. If you don’t love it, let us know and we’ll give you all your money back.

As a nutrition coach, your clients rely on you to know answers to questions like…

“How do I lose weight?”

“Why do I have cravings?”

“Why do I eat, even when I’m not really hungry?”

“When I’m stressed, I eat/don’t eat. What should I do?”

You might have even wondered yourself…

Why some people can easily pass up dessert when they’re full, while others happily go back for that third slice of pie.

Or why some people eat more when they’re stressed or upset, and others eat less.

Knowing the underlying physiology behind appetite and hunger will help you respond to your clients’ questions and concerns more confidently — and importantly — correctly.

In What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It, you’ll learn how to help anyone overcome persistent food frustrations with a new understanding of:

  • why we eat;
  • why we get hungry or want to eat;
  • why we like some foods more than others; and
  • how this affects our food and eating choices.

This course is a holistic look at how our body systems influence how and why we eat. With this understanding of biological mechanisms, you and your clients are less likely to be misled by diet fads, pseudoscience, and claims about “magical” supplements.

Instead, you’ll be able to achieve long-term, transformational results.

What you’ll learn in What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It

Clearly explain the difference between appetite and hunger, why each occurs, and how they affect our ability to reach our health and fitness goals.

Understand the main physiological systems (such as our brain, hormones, GI tract, etc.) that affect and regulate appetite, hunger, and eating behaviors.

The subtle eating cues that—when ignored—negatively impact our health and weight.

Confidently answer “no” when your clients ask, “Am I doomed to be this weight forever?”

Strategies to help all types of clients make a sustainable transition from poor eating habits to a healthy relationship with food.

Why simply eating less to decrease body fat often fails—and how to coach your clients with a holistic approach to fat loss instead.

Why people struggle with cravings and make frustrating food decisions, what causes binge-eating, and why physical hunger often feels like an emergency.

How our different biological sex, age, genetics, and more shape our unique “appetite and hunger profile” — and how to make individual plans based on these factors.

How the course works

What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It is a self-paced, digital course that positions you to confidently help anyone overcome their food frustrations and reach their health and fitness goals. Here’s an overview of the three core units:

Graphical depiction of the connection between the brain and the stomach and intestines.

Unit 1:
Why do we get hungry?

Estimated learning time: 3-5 hrs

In this unit, you’ll learn how the physiology of hunger, appetite, and satiety work—along with the difference between hunger and appetite.

We’ll also dive into the physiological mechanisms that tell us to eat more or less or start and stop eating, including brain and central neurological systems of regulation, hormonal systems of regulation, and regulation by the gastrointestinal tract.

Six people doing different types of exercise: bike riding, meditation, jogging, stretching and pilates.

Unit 2:
Individual variation

Estimated learning time: 3-5 hrs

Unit 2 explains why people experience hunger and appetite differently. You’ll learn how age, phase of life, biological sex, genetics, and epigenetics come into play. We’ll also dig into the role of the brain-gut-microbiome axis and circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.

Graphic depiction of the Homeostatic systems (needing food) and Hedonic systems (wanting and liking food)

Unit 3:
Biopsychosocial factors

Estimated learning time: 3-5 hrs

Unit 3 looks at whether “food addiction” is a thing while also digging deeper into the other factors that affect appetite and hunger, including physical activity, food quality, and our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.

You’ll also get specific, concrete steps to help your clients navigate their way through it all.

Confidently communicate the complexities of hunger and appetite

Get the tools and strategies to help your clients overcome food frustrations and reach their health and fitness goals with ease.

START THE COURSE NOW

What’s included in What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It?

40+ downloadable resources.

Get exclusive access to the coaching resources we use with PN clients. These include handy explanatory scripts, diagrams, and handouts to help you communicate appetite and hunger concepts clearly, and give your clients simple steps to potentially look, feel, and perform better.

Eating Behavior Assessment Tool.

Use the Eating Behavior Assessment Tool to help you assess what might already be going well for your client, what your client might be struggling with, and which skills & practices might help them improve their eating and deep health.

Apply this course towards an Advanced Certificate in Nutrition for Metabolic Health.

This is one of three required courses that make up our Specialist in Nutrition for Metabolic Health certificate. Take any of the courses as a standalone. Or take all three to get the certificate as a way to showcase your expertise and stand out from the crowd.

Expert Insights Audio

As you progress through the course, you’ll get “behind the scenes” perspectives and conversations with our subject matter experts. (Includes downloadable transcripts of all sound files, so you have a written record if you want to refer back quickly).

Study at your own pace, anywhere.

All of the course materials are delivered digitally so that you can work through the course at your own speed, from anywhere in the world.

Use this course to earn CECs.

What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It qualifies for continuing education credits with the following organizations: ACE, AFAA, CPTN, NASM, ISSA, NBHWC (CE-000103-3), REPs NZ and UKIHCA.

Why learn with Precision Nutrition?

Here are just a few reasons…

We’re the originators of behavior-change for nutrition coaching, and since 2005 we’ve used the tools, science, and systems in our courses to help over 100,000 people transform their health and fitness. (No other nutrition company in the world can say this.) That means everything you’ll learn has been proven in the real world, with real people.

We are the experts that other experts come to for help. Precision Nutrition advises organizations around the world, coaches elite athletes and sports teams, and has been featured in leading publications. There’s a reason over 2 million people come to our website every single month.

We’re the home of the world’s #1 nutrition coaching certification, with over 150,000 health and fitness professionals choosing to get certified by us.

Science-backed and peer-reviewed. Our coaching method was recently validated in 3 peer-reviewed studies. This means everything you’ll learn is backed by science.

Bottom line: If you want to learn how to coach nutrition from the best in the field, you’ve come to the right place.

Meet the course authors

Our team includes some of the best nutritionists, PhDs, strength coaches, counselors, researchers, and specialists in the field.

Krista Scott-Dixon is Precision Nutrition’s director of curriculum. She earned her doctorate in Women’s Studies from York University. She holds counseling certifications from George Brown College and Leading Edge Training, which is certified by the Canadian Psychological Association.

Krista Scott-Dixon, PhD

Brian St. Pierre is the director of nutrition at Precision Nutrition, the coauthor of Precision Nutrition’s Level 1 Certification textbook, The Essentials of Nutrition and Coaching, and the mastermind behind the Precision Nutrition Calculator. He holds a master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Maine.

Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD, CSCS

Adam Feit is Precision Nutrition’s head strength and sport psychology coach. Feit earned his master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from the California University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in Applied Exercise Science from Springfield College. He recently received his PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Springfield College where he examined the use of mental skills in collegiate strength and conditioning.

Adam Feit, PhD, CSCS, SCCC, PN2

Helen Kollias, PhD, is PN’s science advisor and coauthor of Precision Nutrition’s Level 1 Certification textbook, The Essentials of Nutrition and Coaching. An exercise physiologist, Dr. Kollias earned her doctorate in Molecular Biology from York University in Toronto, specializing in the area of muscle development and regeneration. She has a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry from the University of Waterloo, and has taught exercise physiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry at the university and college level.

Helen Kollias, PhD

Craig Weller is Precision Nutrition’s exercise systems and program director and a PN Master Coach. His certifications include US Navy SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant Crewman), Department of State WPPS-2 (Worldwide Personal Protective Service), Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, StrongFirst Girya Level 1, and Precision Nutrition Level 2. He’s also a US Department of State Worldwide Personal Protective Service Security Specialist and formerly a nationally-registered emergency medical technician.

Craig Weller, CPT, US Navy SWCC, SFG1, PN Master coach

Karin is a Curriculum Writer with a PhD focused on health behavior change. In addition to that, she has a M.A. in Communications, a Bachelor's in Psychology, and she has published research on Mindset Theory.

Karin Nordin, PhD, PN1

Alexander Schwartz, PhD, is a nutrition scientist and curriculum designer with Precision Nutrition. Dr. Schwartz earned his PhD in Nutritional Sciences in the area of testosterone, appetite regulation and exercise physiology. His master’s of science degree in Human Kinetics focused on energy expenditure, weight loss and obesity and he has been heavily cited on the subject.

Alexander Schwartz, PhD

Dr. Ezinne Meribe is a Research Scientist and Curriculum Writer at Precision Nutrition. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Medicine & Surgery from University of Nigeria Nsukka. She has a Masters degree in Public Health from Kumamoto University, Japan where she is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate. The core of her work is built on using client centered communication to improve health outcomes.

Ezinne Meribe, MD, PhD(c)

Ryan Andrews is a principle nutritionist and adviser for Precision Nutrition and an adjunct instructor at Purchase College, State University of New York. He holds master’s degrees in both Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Kent State University and a BS in Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado. Ryan completed his dietetic internship at Johns Hopkins Medicine and studied sustainable food systems at Columbia University in the executive education program.

Ryan Andrews, MS, MA, RD, RYT, CSCS

Dr. Marge Garrod is a retired clinical researcher with a PhD in Nutritional Biology and Masters in Pharmacology/Toxicology, who worked mostly on human nutritional absorption and metabolism studies both through UC Davis and the ARS-USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center at Davis.

Marjorie Garrod, PhD

Carlos Davila, M.A. Developmental Psychology, is an Adjunct Professor at LIU Brooklyn (where he teaches Sports Psychology at the undergraduate and graduate level) and at John Jay College (where he teaches Intro to Psychology). He’s also a CrossFit coach and group exercise instructor at Fhitting Room.

Carlos Davila, M.A.

Laura Castellani is a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. Her research focuses on understanding the metabolic implications of antipsychotics, and how exercise and nutrition can restore metabolic and mental health. Prior to joining CAMH, Laura completed her PhD in Exercise Physiology & Metabolism, her MSc in Human Health and Nutritional Science, and a BSc in Biological Science, all at the University of Guelph, Ontario.

Laura Castellani, PhD

Elnaz is a researcher and writer for Precision Nutrition. She holds an HBSc in Biology and Psychology and completed her PhD degree in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. Elnaz is also a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certified coach and a registered holistic nutritionist through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.

Elnaz Moghimi, PhD

Pricing

Get instant access to the What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It digital course materials for only $349. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and coaching strategies to help your clients navigate the complicated world of appetite and hunger—so they can achieve long-lasting results.

What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It
$ 349 ONE-TIME PAYMENT
START THE COURSE NOW
What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It
$ 349 USD
ONE-TIME PAYMENT
START THE COURSE NOW

45-day money-back guarantee.

What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It
$ 349 ONE-TIME PAYMENT
START THE COURSE NOW
What is Hunger, and How Can We Control It
$ 349 USD
ONE-TIME PAYMENT
START THE COURSE NOW

45-day money-back guarantee.

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Confidently communicate the complexities of hunger and appetite

Get the tools and strategies to help your clients overcome food frustrations and reach their health and fitness goals with ease.

START THE COURSE NOW