AMA launches nutrition education initiative

CHICAGO - The American Medical Association (AMA) is launching a nutrition education initiative to equip physicians and medical students with practical, evidence-based knowledge and tools to help patients live healthier lives. The program will feature webinars, roundtables, and additional resources on the AMA Ed Hub™. This work is part of an ongoing effort by the AMA to advance nutrition education across the medical education continuum and elevate nutrition as a core component of patient care.

Many of the most common health problems in the United States are closely linked to diet. Overconsumption of highly processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and excess sodium contribute to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic illnesses. Building on longstanding AMA policy, this new initiative will help integrate nutrition into clinical care and strengthen physicians' role in helping patients make informed, healthy food choices.

"Nutrition is fundamental to good health and disease prevention. When we recognize that food is medicine, it becomes clear that what we eat and drink have a direct impact on our health," said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. "The AMA is committed to giving physicians the tools they need to bring the latest nutrition science into routine patient care and to help patients understand how the choices they make at the table today can shape their long-term health."

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. All webinars are free and open to physicians, residents, medical students, other health professionals, and patients. Conversations will be moderated by Dr. Mukkamala, an otolaryngologist who is also board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine. Attendees are required to register, and each session will offer CME credit. Sessions are scheduled for:

• March 31 - Dietary Guidelines: What Physicians Need to Know
  • Christopher Gardner, PhD, Stanford Medicine Prevention Research Center
  • Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, MPH, Tufts University School of Medicine
• April 29 - Understanding Processed Food
• May 19 - Exploring Protein Sources
• June 23 - Reducing Risk of Chronic Disease Through Diet

Click here to register for the March 31 webinar.

The AMA has long supported reducing added sodium in foods, limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, and increasing awareness of the health risks associated with highly processed foods. The AMA continues to work with Congress to expand food labeling efforts, incentivize nutrient dense foods, define ultra-processed foods, and increase investment in nutrition research.