What’s the news: The AMA is applauding a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) proposal to enhance nutrition education across all U.S. medical degree programs, pending public comment and final approval.
The LCME is proposing changes to Standard 7 of the 2025–2026 edition of the Functions and Structure of a Medical School, adding Element 7.3 (health promotion and health maintenance). The new language stipulates that medical education curriculum “includes content focused on factors that affect the ability to promote and maintain health across the life cycle. This content includes the role of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic disease, and other challenges to wellness associated with common societal problems.”
The LCME approved the proposed revisions in September and is seeking public comment on the new language until Jan. 7, 2026. Expanded integration of nutritional science in medical education aligns with AMA policy advocating evidence-based nutrition instruction throughout undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education.
Why it’s important: Physicians typically spend at least seven years in medical school and residency in rigorous training.
“Good nutrition is essential to preventing and managing chronic disease, and this increased focus in medical training will ensure physicians are fully equipped to help patients live healthier lives,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “While nutrition has long been part of medical school curricula, this proposal moves beyond checking a box to making sure graduates put that knowledge into practice with clear expectations and measurable outcomes” related to the role of nutrition in health promotion and health maintenance.
“The AMA looks forward,” he added, “to working with medical schools to develop nutrition education that will benefit our patients.”
Learn more: In addition to its sponsorship role with the LCME, the AMA is catalyzing change in medical education with its ChangeMedEd® initiative, working across the continuum with visionary partners to create bold innovations. Learn more about the AMA’s efforts in undergraduate and graduate medical education, transformative resources for learners and educators, and national events that disseminate innovations to better train physicians to meet the needs of patients today and in the future.
Stay up to date on nutrition and health and fulfill your CME requirements with the AMA Ed Hub™. An AMA Ed Hub nutrition and health course covers the role of nutrition in preventing and treating chronic disease, research on dieting, obesity management and weight loss, issues of equity and ethics, plus more, helping you increase your foundational knowledge and better incorporate nutrition into clinical practice. The course offers 59.75 total CME credits.
The AMA Ed Hub is an online learning platform that brings together high-quality CME, maintenance of certification, and educational content from trusted sources, all in one place—with activities relevant to you, automated credit tracking, and reporting for some states and specialty boards.
Learn more about AMA CME accreditation.
