[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE ENHANCING NUTRITION IN MEDICAL EDUCATION ACT OF 
                                  2004

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, the importance of nutrition in 
attaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is well known. Today, as 
countless reports and articles call attention to the obesity epidemic 
in our country, it is more important than ever that we focus on 
preventive health measures including good nutrition habits. Nutrition 
plays a significant role in the onset and progression of six of the ten 
leading causes of death. Nutrition intervention also decreases 
morbidity, mortality, human suffering, and medical costs.
  That is why in 1990 Congress mandated that our Nation's medical 
schools integrate nutrition education into their curricula. Today, 
however--14 years later--many physicians and medical students are still 
requesting more training and education in nutrition. I believe now is 
the time to take action to provide additional resources for medical 
schools throughout the country to address the known desire and 
demonstrated need for increased training and education in nutrition.
  To that end, I rise today to introduce the Enhancing Nutrition in 
Medical Education Act of 2004. This legislation authorizes a grant 
program for which all U.S. allopathic medical schools would be eligible 
to apply, to assist them in developing, implementing, and integrating 
innovative nutrition components into their existing medical education 
curriculum. To name a few of the requirements, the grants will focus on 
preventive health measures such as education on the causes, treatment, 
and prevention of obesity; prevention and treatment of common 
nutritional deficiencies; and office education and counseling to ensure 
appropriate diet for mostly healthy people. The grants awarded will be 
in the amount of $50,000 for any fiscal year, or a total of $100,000 
for the 2-year duration of the grant.
  Also, schools awarded grants will be required to submit a report to 
the Secretary of HHS describing the nutrition curricula they developed, 
along with results achieved through its implementation. The Secretary 
will in turn be responsible for disseminating a report to all medical 
schools nationwide comprised of nutrition curriculum descriptions 
developed by the grantees. The reporting requirement will ensure that 
medical schools who either chose not to apply for the grants or who 
were not awarded grants still receive information and models on 
nutrition curricula they can incorporate into their own.
  In 2003 a survey was conducted of all accredited medical and 
osteopathic colleges in the U.S. to determine the present state of 
nutrition training in medical school curricula. This study showed 
positive trends, but with much room to grow. The study found that a 
nutrition course was required in forty percent of the medical and 
osteopathic programs, an elective course in 13 percent, and 24 percent 
of the schools integrated the subject in other courses. Approximately 
23 percent lacked nutrition of any type. Schools that required 
nutrition showed a mean number of 2.5 credit hours, and it was rare for 
medical programs to require more than one nutrition course or for the 
course to exceed three credit hours.

  Mr. Speaker, a similar survey conducted in 1997-1998 showed that 26 
percent of medical school programs required nutrition courses. The 
slight increase in programs requiring nutrition courses is certainly a 
positive trend, but considering the alarming rates of obesity, 
diabetes, and other negative health affects associated with poor 
nutrition, we must do more.
  The Enhancing Nutrition in Medical Education Act provides no new 
mandates to medical schools, but simply allows them the opportunity to 
access additional funds to enhance and increase nutrition education in 
their curriculum. I would like to thank the people at the American 
Dietetic Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges, 
as well as the many others who have helped me in developing this 
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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