How Studying Nutrition Helps Health Professionals
Medical professionals are trusted voices in guiding patients’ health, yet not many provide diet counseling to their constituency. The main reasons for this roadblock cited by medical professionals include lack of knowledge and inadequate training. This gap reflects a broader, long-standing problem: medical nutrition education in the United States remains limited and insufficient, leaving future physicians underprepared to harness this powerful tool for prevention and treatment.
A recent study found that 90 percent of cardiologists stated in a survey that they received no or minimal education in nutrition as part of their medical programs. According to one estimate, 71 percent of medical schools provide less than the recommended 25 hours of nutrition education, and 36 percent provide less than half that amount. So while nutrition plays a critical role in the prevention, management and treatment of many chronic health conditions, the medical profession hasn’t fully prepared future doctors to use it.
A recent paper in the Journal of the American Medicine Association proposed to create national nutrition competencies in medical education. And that’s where the specialized nutrition programs, such as the one-year Master's in Human Nutrition from Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition, come in. They are designed to bridge the gap and educate medical professionals in all aspects of nutrition science, ranging from basic biology to epidemiology to patients’ personalized diet counseling and meal planning.
Here’s how studying nutrition helps medical professionals close this important gap.
It improves outcomes for chronic diseases
Many chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and even cancer are strongly influenced by dietary choices. Nutrition-savvy professionals can create and implement personalized dietary strategies that help improve these conditions, alleviate symptoms and boost patients’ wellbeing. As part of the IHN curriculum, students study the role of nutrition in the development and treatment of these chronic diseases as well as other conditions like allergies and gastrointestinal disorders. The course, named Integrative Nutrition and Pathophysiology, explores the biological pathogenesis of these diseases, their clinical manifestations and the appropriate medical nutrition therapies.
It reduces patients’ reliance on medication
Many metabolic disorders improve with healthier diets. For example, multiple studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be reversed through lifestyle changes, such as following a low-calorie diet and regular exercise, in many patients. Similarly, a DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, can reduce patients’ sodium intake and lower blood pressure, reducing the need for medication or lowering the doses. That means that proper counseling can help decrease patients’ dependence on medication and improve their overall quality of life.
It enhances disease prevention
With increasing rates of obesity and other diet-related illnesses, preventive care is more important than ever. By incorporating nutrition into their practice, healthcare providers can help patients make lifestyle changes that reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases in the first place. As part of the Human Nutrition course, IHN students learn about nutritional needs at key stages of life. The course is designed to help students understand how nutrition contributes to optimal growth, development and disease prevention from conception to old age.
Implementing healthy food choices from childhood is crucial for lifelong health. Early adoption of nutritious eating habits helps children establish healthy routines that they carry into adulthood—the concept that IHN alumna Nailah Adams wanted to focus on. “Childhood obesity and healthy lifestyles have always been passions of mine,” says Adams. “I wanted to be a family medicine and sports medicine doctor to help communities become and stay healthy. Because what we get out of our bodies depends so much on what we put into them, I decided to pursue dedicated training in nutrition so that I could be a better healthcare provider.”
It aids in patient recovery and healing
Proper nutrition is critical for a patient's recovery from illness, injury or surgery. Healthcare providers who understand nutrition can advise on dietary plans that boost the immune system, support wound healing and optimize energy levels. Studies show that nutritional support can lead to shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions. When clinicians are trained in nutrition, they can integrate diet into treatment plans as effectively as medication, speeding up recovery and boosting patients’ quality of life during the healing process.
It empowers patients through education
Patients look to healthcare providers as trusted sources of information. With solid nutritional knowledge, health professionals can provide practical, actionable advice that is tailored to a patient's specific health needs, cultural preferences, and lifestyle. This empowers patients to make more informed decisions about their health.
During Columbia’s Master's in Human Nutrition program, students take the Essentials of Nutrition Counseling and Medical Nutrition Therapy course, during which they learn current nutrition guidelines designed by professional societies and organizations. They also learn counseling techniques via a two-step process. The first step introduces students to counseling techniques designed to enhance their abilities to work with patients. In the second step, students will apply these skills through assignments related to medical nutrition management.
Students can also practice these skills in real-world settings by volunteering at Columbia Student Medical Outreach (CoSMO), a free clinic serving uninsured patients in Washington Heights and Northern Harlem.
It supports patients’ mental health
The link between diet and mental wellbeing is a growing area of research. Recognizing this connection, healthcare providers can make evidence-based nutritional recommendations for patients dealing with conditions like depression and anxiety.
Health professionals can support patients by recommending healthful dietary changes, such as increasing fiber, vitamins and minerals while cutting down on processed foods to improve brain function, reduce inflammation and promote emotional resilience.
It enables a holistic approach to medicine
Healthcare professionals often focus on treating symptoms, but nutrition education shifts the focus toward the "whole person." Understanding the role of diet—including its connection to gut health, inflammation, and mental health—enables more comprehensive and integrated treatment plans.
At IHN, students have the opportunity to study lifestyle medicine, which focuses on modifying one’s choices to prevent and treat chronic illnesses. This specialty course explores the practice of lifestyle medicine, breaking the evidence-based insights into six key principles: nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, social connection and risk avoidance. Throughout the course, students learn the scientific evidence supporting these six principles and how to apply them in clinical settings. This foundation enables them to practice medicine holistically, focusing on changing patients’ habits and preferences rather than simply targeting symptoms.
Conclusion
Patients commonly look at physicians as trusted sources of health advice, yet many health professionals lack the nutrition training needed to deliver meaningful diet counseling. Columbia University’s Master’s in Human Nutrition program directly addresses this problem, equipping healthcare professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills to transform patient care and improve long-term outcomes. “Studying nutrition helps health professionals provide more comprehensive patient care, improve patient outcomes, focus preventive health, and ultimately become a trusted voice for patients,” says Kim Hekimian, PhD, Director of the IHN’s Master of Science in Nutrition program.
Interested in learning more? Register for a MS program webinar.