The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today issued a Dear Colleague Letter (PDF - 284 KB) encouraging HRSA-supported workforce training programs to strengthen nutrition education across their curricula to better prepare future health professionals to incorporate nutrition into patient care.
Diet-related chronic diseases are responsible for nearly 60% of deaths in the United States and an estimated one million Americans die each year from diet-related conditions. Strengthening nutrition education for health professionals can help improve prevention, support earlier intervention, and promote better health outcomes for the communities HRSA serves.
“Every health professional who helps patients understand the importance of good nutrition has an opportunity to make a lasting difference in their health and well-being,” said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. “By empowering people with the knowledge and resources to make healthy nutrition choices, we can prevent disease before it starts, support long-term well-being, and help ensure healthier futures for individuals and families across the nation.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans (PDF - 3 MB) with a simple message: Eat Real Food. The guidelines prioritize nutrient-dense foods and recommend limiting highly processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates to support long-term health and help reduce the burden of chronic disease.
This Dear Colleague Letter builds on broader HHS efforts to advance nutrition education throughout the health professions. In March 2026, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. called for increased nutrition education across the medical education continuum. More than 70 of the nation’s leading medical schools have joined the Advancing Nutrition Education initiative and pledged to provide a minimum of 40 hours of nutritional education, or a 40-hour competency equivalent, beginning in fall 2026.
HRSA has also invested in expanding nutrition education in health professions training programs. Through this Dear Colleague Letter, HRSA encourages grantees to prepare current and future health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to help prevent, identify, and address diet-related chronic disease and improve health outcomes in communities across the country.
HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care for people who are geographically isolated or economically or medically vulnerable.