Stanford University
Stanford Medicine Beyond Diets: The Science of Weight Loss, GLP-1s, and Metabolic Health
Deepen your understanding of the evolving landscape of nutrition and weight loss. Explore the latest evidence-based research on weight regulation and learn actionable, integrated strategies to help improve patient and client outcomes in clinical, corporate, or wellness settings.
Start date
24 June 2026
Cohort-based learning
Group learning, expert guidance
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
English
Access resources from start date
4–7 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Learn modern weight management strategies and frameworks that you can apply directly across professional and personal settings.
Earn a certificate from Stanford Medicine, ranked No. 3 in the QS Top University Rankings for Medicine.
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Medicine. (2026).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
The Stanford Medicine Beyond Diets: The Science of Weight Loss, GLP-1s, and Metabolic Health online short course equips healthcare providers, wellness professionals, and health-conscious individuals with the evidence-based insight needed to navigate metabolic health in the GLP-1 era. Over six weeks, you will move beyond nutrition fundamentals to explore the biological drivers of weight regulation — including genetics, the gut-brain-microbiome axis, and circadian rhythms — while learning how to combine clinical interventions such as GLP-1 therapies and surgery with lifestyle strategies for sustainable outcomes.
Through rigorous, research-led learning from Stanford Medicine faculty, you will gain practical frameworks to support chronic disease prevention and care. The cohort-based experience includes a live session, global peer networking, and an applied capstone project. At the end of the course, you will earn a Stanford Medicine certificate of completion to enhance your professional profile.
Is this course for you?
This Stanford Medicine GLP-1s and weight management course is developed for those looking to build on an existing understanding of nutrition science with evidence-based insights into metabolic health.
This online short course is designed for a range of learners, especially:
- Healthcare professionals — including doctors, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical researchers, and allied health practitioners who want to incorporate advanced nutritional guidance and GLP-1 protocols into clinical practice to help improve patient outcomes in obesity and diabetes care.
- Wellness and fitness professionals — such as personal trainers, health coaches, corporate wellness leaders, and fitness practitioners seeking evidence-based strategies for weight management, nutrition planning, and the responsible use of GLP-1 medications to help support client outcomes.
- Health-conscious individuals — with an understanding of nutrition who want to explore more advanced dietary strategies, personalized weight management approaches, and the role of GLP-1 therapies in long-term health.
- Past learners of online courses like Stanford Nutrition Science who are interested in the latest developments in metabolic health.
Course overview
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
The Stanford Medicine Beyond Diets: The Science of Weight Loss, GLP-1s, and Metabolic Health online short course equips healthcare providers, wellness professionals, and health-conscious individuals with the evidence-based insight needed to navigate metabolic health in the GLP-1 era. Over six weeks, you will move beyond nutrition fundamentals to explore the biological drivers of weight regulation — including genetics, the gut-brain-microbiome axis, and circadian rhythms — while learning how to combine clinical interventions such as GLP-1 therapies and surgery with lifestyle strategies for sustainable outcomes.
Through rigorous, research-led learning from Stanford Medicine faculty, you will gain practical frameworks to support chronic disease prevention and care. The cohort-based experience includes a live session, global peer networking, and an applied capstone project. At the end of the course, you will earn a Stanford Medicine certificate of completion to enhance your professional profile.
Is this course for you?
This Stanford Medicine GLP-1s and weight management course is developed for those looking to build on an existing understanding of nutrition science with evidence-based insights into metabolic health.
This online short course is designed for a range of learners, especially:
- Healthcare professionals — including doctors, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical researchers, and allied health practitioners who want to incorporate advanced nutritional guidance and GLP-1 protocols into clinical practice to help improve patient outcomes in obesity and diabetes care.
- Wellness and fitness professionals — such as personal trainers, health coaches, corporate wellness leaders, and fitness practitioners seeking evidence-based strategies for weight management, nutrition planning, and the responsible use of GLP-1 medications to help support client outcomes.
- Health-conscious individuals — with an understanding of nutrition who want to explore more advanced dietary strategies, personalized weight management approaches, and the role of GLP-1 therapies in long-term health.
- Past learners of online courses like Stanford Nutrition Science who are interested in the latest developments in metabolic health.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
What will set you apart
A research-backed understanding of nutritional standards, physical activity recommendations, and lifestyle practices that support long-term health.
Practical knowledge of the biological factors governing individual appetite, energy expenditure, and long-term weight trajectories.
A comprehensive perspective on how interventions like surgeries and GLP-1 weight loss drugs factor into comprehensive weight management plans.
Consolidated strategies and techniques for overcoming common obstacles and sustaining momentum toward personal, long-term health goals.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation Module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Understanding weight, health, and risk
Module 2
The muscle versus fat challenge in modern weight loss
Module 3
The foundations of realistic weight regulation — nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle
Module 4
The biology of weight regulation — genes, hormones, gut, and circadian systems
Module 5
GLP-1s and other medical interventions
Module 6
From weight management to sustainable, long-term health management
Academic Directors
Christopher Gardner
Director of Nutrition Studies, Stanford Prevention Research Center; Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine, Stanford University
Dalia Perelman
Research Dietitian, Stanford University
About the certificate
Explore the latest evidence-based research in metabolic health and earn an official certificate of completion from Stanford Medicine.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online and culminates in a final capstone project. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. You can chat to an Enrollment Specialist to learn more about the course requirements before you enroll, or view the course handbook once you start. You can also view general assessment information here.
Get more information
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We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an enrollment specialist, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your enrollment specialist who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our enrollment specialists before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
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