As an educator and advocate for evidence-based nutrition<\/a>, I\u2019m thrilled to introduce both the 17th edition of the best-selling text, \u201cNutrition: Concepts & Controversies,\u201d<\/a> and myself<\/a> as its newest author. This edition marks a pivotal shift in how we teach, learn and live nutrition \u2014 not just as a science, but as a lifelong journey toward wellness.<\/p>\n My name is Mary Wissmann and I am an Adjunct Faculty Instructor of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at University of Missouri<\/a>. My husband and I are both University of Missouri alums. We have three of our own future Tigers ranging in age from high school to elementary school. After completing my dietetics training and receiving my master\u2019s degree in nutrition at Mizzou, I began working in my local county for the University of Missouri Extension as a regional nutrition specialist. Teaching community education classes for many years really emphasized gaps in general nutrition knowledge in the larger community.<\/p>\n My teaching philosophy is based on bringing \u00a0material from the text into students\u2019 everyday lives. One of my favorite assignments each semester is a student writing assignment on nutrition and health misinformation.\u00a0Students search their social media feeds, news reports and podcasts for attention-grabbing headlines about nutrition and health. This activity inspires a deep dive into nutrition and health misinformation. Students use the techniques learned in the text to support or refute the ideas presented online. They learn about credible sources and practice using those sources to answer their own questions on the topic.<\/p>\n In addition to applying information online, I also encourage my students to apply what they learn in the kitchen. Nutritional knowledge is valuable but has little impact on health if it isn\u2019t relevant to a person\u2019s eating habits. After introducing each of the macronutrients<\/a>, students prepare an associated recipe that highlights a classic, yet simple cooking technique. By the end of the semester, students are much more confident and adept at planning and preparing their own meals that illustrate the concepts learned throughout the semester.<\/p>\n The following are a few of the more significant updates we\u2019ve made to this new edition for an overall better student learning experience.<\/p>\n One of the most transformative updates to this edition is our weight-neutral approach to health. We\u2019ve moved away from the outdated notion that health is synonymous with body size. Instead, we focus on incremental, sustainable behavior change. This fosters long-term well-being, regardless of weight. It\u2019s a perspective that encourages students to embrace health as a personal, evolving pursuit<\/a> \u2014 not a one-size-fits-all destination.<\/p>\n Not only does this updated version includes the latest data, statistics and cutting-edge research about health in the U.S. and across the globe, but it also includes important updates to the language we use around bodies and health. This text removes the focus on body weight and size as the ultimate indicator of health and instead directs students\u2019 attention to the actionable behaviors that lead to an end-goal of longevity and good health.<\/p>\n Major changes are noticeable to the organization and language of Chapter 9, which is now called \u201cEnergy Balance and Healthy Body Weight.\u201d It includes a discussion about the challenges of the body mass index tool<\/a>, an inclusion of intuitive eating principles and the benefits of physical activity independent of body weight. Nearly every chapter identifies the detrimental impacts of diet culture and refocuses the information around a weight-neutral approach to health.<\/p>\nA little about me: My background in nutrition<\/a> education<\/h2>\n
Teaching nutrition for everyday life: My classroom philosophy<\/h2>\n
New updates to this 17th edition<\/h2>\n
An evidence-based approach: Health is not one-size-fits-all<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Notable changes to Chapter 9<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Science you can see: Measured references and new tables<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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