AAMC Calls on Medical Schools to Strengthen Nutrition Education
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For physicians who treat the daily realities of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, nutrition isn’t an afterthought—it’s foundational. Recognizing this, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has issued a call to action urging U.S. medical schools and academic health systems to strengthen nutrition education throughout all phases of medical training.
In a letter to the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education, AAMC leadership emphasized that medical education must evolve to match the growing need for lifestyle-based prevention and chronic disease management. “Nutrition is central to preventing, managing, and treating many of the chronic diseases that continue to drive morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs,” said AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD.
Over the last decade, U.S. medical schools have made notable progress: only 38% had integrated nutrition into their curricula beyond basic sciences in 2014, compared to 94% in 2024. Yet the AAMC cautions that continued effort is critical to ensure future physicians are prepared to collaborate effectively with dietitians, nutritionists, and public health professionals—particularly as chronic disease rates rise across all demographics.
AAMC Issues Call to Action to Strengthen Nutrition Training in Medical Education (AAMC, 11/6).
