Diet And Nutrition Key Factors In Health -- But Few Medical Schools Teach It

Most Americans regard their medical physician as their primary source for reliable nutrition advice. Yet, most have little or no training in nutrition. The Association of American Medical Colleges reported that in 1995, only 29 out of 129 U.S. medical schools (less 23%) had a required nutrition course. Thirty-two schools (nearly 25%) offered no nutrition education at all.

"Nutrition is now recognized as a key modality for health promotion and disease prevention in the 21st century. Still, education of physicians on nutrition-related matters is abysmal," says Richard Deckelbaum, M.D., director of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University.

One study found that only six percent of medical students took advantage of an elective nutrition course when it was offered. Frequently, medical students aren't even aware of the elective or its significance in a clinical setting.

"I graduated from medical school in 1963 and back then they didn't realize the importance nutrition played in many of the major diseases such as cancer and diabetes. It didn't seem as important then to include courses on nutrition," said Dr. Mohammed Khonsary, a private practice internist in New Jersey and student of the program.

"It would be wise now to place a greater emphasis on nutrition," he continued, "such as the broad role fruits and vegetables play in disease prevention, and include more classes on the subject, especially since we now have 60 million overweight people in this country."

Dietetics has a venerable history in medicine that stretches back at least to Hippocrates, who regarded it as virtually inseparable from medicine. In fact, four of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States are diet-related conditions: diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

So, when did physicians lose site of nutrition's role in health?

"Clinical nutrition has been overlooked because it cannot be identified with any particular physiological system in the body, as most medical specialities can," says Dr. Deckelbaum.

He adds that better nutrition can result in delaying the onset of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease or cancer, by five years or more, a factor that will decrease health care costs in the United States by more than $80 billion annually.

Not all medical doctors seem to be aware of this -- or care.

The Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons recently developed a master of science degree in nutrition for practicing physicians. The program offers physicians an opportunity to augment their training with a foundation in basic and clinical nutritional sciences. Just seven doctors enrolled in the program.