For too long, nutrition has been treated as an elective in medical education. It shouldn’t be. It should be basic, foundational training because it affects nearly every patient we see.
The AMA understands that improving health takes more than breakthrough drugs and new technologies. Those advances matter. But lasting health also depends on giving physicians the tools to help our patients prevent disease in the first place.
The science is clear. Poor diet—particularly diets high in unhealthy highly processed foods, sodium and added sugars—is one of the leading drivers of chronic disease in our nation. Diabetes. Heart disease. Obesity. Even certain cancers. These conditions account for an enormous share of illness and health care spending in our country and the world. Yet many physicians receive very little formal training in nutrition.
The AMA is stepping up to fill that gap.
The AMA is launching a nutrition education webinar series this month designed to equip physicians and physicians-in-training with practical, evidence-based knowledge and tools they can leverage to have meaningful conversations with their patients.
The webinar series, “Healthy Diet and Dietary Patterns,” begins on March 31 and will feature in-depth discussions with physicians, nutrition experts, and public health leaders on the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, chronic disease prevention, highly processed foods, and more.
The goal is straightforward: Make it easier for physicians to access credible nutrition science and translate it into patient care. Register now for the March 31 CME webinar.
I regularly hear from doctors who say they want a deeper understanding of how diet affects disease and how to counsel patients about food choices. The gap exists largely because nutrition has historically been sidelined in medical education. Fortunately, that is changing.
Medical schools are rethinking their curricula. Health systems are embracing the idea that food is medicine. Policymakers are focusing more on prevention. Across the country, there is growing momentum to bring practical, evidence-based nutrition education into medical school and residency training.
Putting nutrition knowledge into practice
Let me be clear: this is not about turning physicians into dietitians. Dietitians play an essential role in health care. What physicians need is a strong foundation; enough knowledge and confidence to have informed, productive conversations with patients about nutrition.
I see this in my own practice in Flint, Michigan. Patients ask about food, supplements, weight and metabolic health all the time. And I’m an ear, nose and throat surgeon, not a primary care physician. That tells you something. Every physician specialty benefits from understanding how nutrition affects overall health.
Recently, after 25 years in practice, I earned my board certification in Lifestyle Medicine from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine because I wanted deeper training in how food and other daily habits influence disease. That education has already changed how I talk with patients and their families. Imagine if all physicians had this training in medical school. That is the paradigm shift we should be aiming for.
Many Americans want to eat healthier, but face real barriers. Nearly 19 million Americans live in communities with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. In 2023, more than one in 10 U.S. households struggled with consistent access to nutritious food. Even basic resources such as clean drinking water cannot always be taken for granted—as communities such as Flint know all too well.
When physicians and patients talk about nutrition, we open the door to practical steps people can take right away. We shift the conversation from reacting to illness toward preventing it. And prevention, done well, can help transform lives. Stronger nutrition education for physicians will not solve every health challenge in America, but it is one of the most practical, impactful steps we can take to improve the health of our communities.
Food is fundamental to health. It should also be fundamental to how we train physicians. If we get this right, we will not just treat disease more effectively. We will help people live longer, healthier lives—and that is the goal of medicine.
