A public health nutritionist, and a word on sources
Dr. Leng Huat Foo of Universiti Sains Malaysia taught at the Parul Institute of Public Health, Parul University, under the Centre for International Relations and Research (CIRR) Visiting Professor Program, focusing on energy metabolism, nutritional science and public health. Before the biochemistry, he cautioned students against over-relying on artificial intelligence for academic answers, comparing it to asking a casual passer-by for directions: useful for a surface-level overview to get started, but no substitute for the deep, specialised data that genuine academic mastery and critical analysis require.
Energy balance and metabolism
Dr. Foo focused on how energy works in the human body. He walked students through the physiology of energy metabolism. Explained about chemical energy and how it is measured. The three pillars of daily energy and how it is spent or where it is spent decides how much energy reserve you have. He also talked about how, with age, the metabolism of energy and storage of energy gets affected.
The goal was to discuss on public health with students and give them an understanding of the mechanism beneath the familiar language of calories and diet.
Carbs in body explained
There is a detailed session on carbs. How the body forms them. There is carbon, hydrogen and oxygen structure of the molecule and it matters. The classification of carbohydrates is done. He explained that there is a difference between simple sugar and dietary sugar. Linking this with obesity and diabetes. Diabetes is also a growing concern today. He explained glycosidic bonds and how carbs are formed. There is plant polysaccharides and starch present. The non-starch polysaccharides and fibre, resistant starch and its role for the gut microbiota, glycogen as the body’s carbohydrate store, and carbohydrate digestion, connecting the chemistry of a nutrient to the health outcomes it drives.
Also Read: Dr. Sarena Abdullah on Art History & Academic Career at IVPP, Parul University!
Health, obesity, and stable view of world
The Dr. Foo discussed about science and connected it with health. He shared the how science is practised for obesity, nutrition, lifestyle and public health. Using some questions and examples he explained the importance of science. He connected public health concepts to everyday dietary habits and community intervention. He further added about how other countries with a balanced view instead of assuming life elsewhere is better, he talked about it through his own experience of travelling to India as an example of learning. He shared how travelling shaped his thinking, diet choices, rather than relying on what others say. A public health mindset of questioning assumptions and understanding that different systems develop under different conditions. Join the Faculty of Public Health where you can be part of master’s and bachelore’s programme at Parul University to get guided by international professors.
