Resolution Calls for Nutrition Education in Medical Schools
McGovern and Burgess Call for Nutrition Education in Medical Training
On November 10, 2021, U.S. Representatives James P. McGovern of Massachusetts and Michael C. Burgess, MD, of Texas announced a bipartisan resolution calling for stronger nutrition education throughout medical training.
During a press conference in Worcester, Massachusetts, the lawmakers emphasized the need for medical schools, residency programs, and fellowship programs to help future physicians better understand the relationship between nutrition, health, and disease.
Calling for Stronger Nutrition Training
The proposed resolution called on medical and health professional training programs to provide meaningful nutrition education that would prepare clinicians to:
- Understand the relationship between diet and disease
- Discuss nutrition with patients
- Initiate appropriate nutrition interventions
- Refer patients to qualified nutrition professionals
- Apply nutrition knowledge in patient care
The resolution also supported additional research into the state of nutrition education in medical training, the development of effective nutrition curricula, and the distribution of educational resources and best practices.
According to the congressional announcement about the nutrition education resolution, medical schools provided an average of only 19 hours of nutrition education across four years at the time. Many physicians consequently entered clinical practice without extensive training in nutrition counseling or diet-related disease prevention.
Connecting Nutrition Education With Patient Care
Conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain cancers are closely connected with diet and other lifestyle factors. The resolution highlighted the importance of preparing healthcare professionals to discuss these connections with patients and make appropriate referrals when specialized nutrition care is needed.
The resolution’s call for stronger nutrition education aligns with the Institute of Human Nutrition’s commitment to preparing future health professionals. Through Columbia’s MS in Human Nutrition, students build a scientific understanding of nutrition and its role in disease prevention, patient care, and public health.
Watch the Nutrition Education Press Conference
Watch the McGovern and Burgess nutrition education press conference to hear more about the proposed resolution and the need for stronger nutrition training in medical education.
Update: Resolution Passes the House
On May 17, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 1118, which called for meaningful nutrition education in medical schools, graduate medical education programs, and other health professional training programs.
The resolution expressed the position of the House but did not establish binding curriculum requirements. Read the official announcement about the resolution’s passage.