Nutrition education in medical training needs major improvements, experts say

A panel of experts has recommended integrating 36 key nutrition topics into medical school training, citing diet's significant impact on health and disease prevention.

Ian McMahan reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

• Seven of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. are closely tied to diet, yet nutrition is lacking in medical education.
• A panel of 37 professionals called for medical students and trainees to receive formal nutrition education, including culturally sensitive dietary advice.
• The experts urged that nutrition competencies be assessed in licensing exams for future physicians.

Key quote:

“Seven of the 10 leading causes of death in the US are directly affected by diet.”

— Expert panel

Why this matters:

With diet-related diseases on the rise, medical professionals need better training to provide evidence-based dietary advice. Improving nutrition education could help reduce deaths and chronic illnesses linked to poor eating habits.

Related:

• Ultraprocessed foods linked to increased risk of dementia
• Rising global obesity rates challenge traditional views on malnutrition
• As climate change worsens, junk food companies exploit the crisis for profit