Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. requires doctors to get more education about nutrition.
On Wednesday, he announced that the team of the Department of Health and Human Services would be directed at the “frightening lack of medical nutrition education”, becoming a greater part of the prize and medical school training programs, medical licensing exams, residences, board of the board and continuing training of doctors.
“We can change the epidemic of a chronic disease by simply changing our diets and lifestyle, but to do so, we need nutrition to be the main part of each doctor’s training,” Kennedy said in a video about X.
This step comes when Kennedy has taken a much controversial actions to restructure public health in America, including a reduction in vaccine tests and federal health agencies.
HHS did not answer individual questions, but noted the NBC news to a press release.
The Department has instructed medical education organizations to submit written plans to include nutrition education until September 10. The American Association of Medical College creates a Medical College’s admission test (MCAT), while medical schools have demands or recommendations on coursework that pre -prepared students should take.
Many doctors praised the report that he had recognized the role of nutrition in rule and to prevent chronic illnesses, a personal interest in Kennedy that he had given policy priority. However, some have expressed concern about not having enough time for the exam in the room to provide nutrition consultation, and said HHS resources would be better for hospitals to have more nutritionists or expand insurance for a diet consultation. Still others said that Kennedy’s report was detrimental to the trust of doctors and had doubts about their ability to take care of patients.
Texas and Louisiana in June. Passed the laws that comply with the proposals of Kennedy Medical Education Policy. Texas laws require doctors to take nutrition courses to update their licenses and medical schools to offer nutrition education to obtain certain state funds. Louisiana’s laws require some doctors to complete at least an hour of continuing training every four years.
Primary health care physician and culinary medicine director dr. Nate Wood said the idea that doctors should be well trained in a diet is good. However, he doubted that it was the most effective way to fight chronic disease.
“I think it is a little short to think that doctors will be a response to this chronic epidemic of the disease when providing a nutrition consultation,” he said.
Wood added that “many visits are hospital visits when patients come to visit very quickly and want to solve four or more complex problems, and it is already very difficult to solve even one or two of them.”
At the editorial office of the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Kennedy said the medical organization is “looking different” when it comes to nutrition education requirements. He drew attention to 2022. A Journal of Wellness survey, which states that medical students receive averaging a little more than an hour of official nutrition education per year. He also mentioned 2024. The study at the “magazine progress” diet, which shows that 75% of US medical schools do not have the necessary clinical nutrition classes.
Previously, Kennedy said he would detain funding for medical schools with no nutritional courses.
“This is what really encouraged me to get into this area.
He said he supported Kennedy’s political suggestions for nutrition in education in medicine.
“The Federal Government should say, ‘Look, if you are not going to do your job and teach doctors how they should be trained, we will stop funding for you.” And then they will listen, ”said MozAffarian.
However, the American Medical College Association says medical students are taught about the health effects of the diet. According to a recent survey of US and Canadian medical schools conducted by the group, all 182 schools said they cover their diet as part of their needed training programs compared to 89% five years earlier.
“Medical schools understand a critical role that the role of nutrition is prevented from chronic health conditions, and its required training programs include significant nutrition education,” said Alison Whalan, AAMC AAMC AAAMC AAAMC Academic Officer.
Kennedy’s invitation about more nutrition education has led to discussions about what people can reasonably expect from primary care physicians.
Mozaffarian said the goal is not to turn into a nutritionist, but to provide them with sufficient knowledge to identify the patient’s diet problems and refer that person to a specialist.
However, Stanford Medicine Specialist dr. Jake Scott said doctors already have this basic knowledge.
“We do not know when we are talking about nutrition, and that is the meaning of Kennedy’s message,” he said.
Scott added that poor nutrition in the US is not just ignorance that Quinoa is healthier than fries. It is also a product of systemic barriers, such as unable to afford a doctor or get healthy food, he said. Approximately 18.8 million people in the US live in desert food-income in the neighborhoods far from the mall.
“There are so many other creative, possible solutions, but in accordance with this medical education requirement, this is the last thing I would do if I was the HHS leader,” he said.
The Wood said an alternative solution would be a larger impetus to obtain the appointments of nutritionists, which would insure insurance. For example, while these visits can be covered with Medicare, they usually require the patient to have diabetes or have kidney disease. He said that the coating of patients with private insurance and medicine may vary.
This article was originally published in nbcnews.com