STAT+: As some medical schools embrace RFK Jr.’s nutrition push, they deftly sidestep MAHA priorities

STAT PlusHealth As some medical schools embrace RFK Jr.’s nutrition push, they deftly sidestep MAHA priorities Experts see ‘wellness creep’ in some topics that HHS wants future doctors to be proficient in Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Lauren ChanJuly 27, 2026 AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow Lauren Chan[email protected]Lauren writes about healthcare AI data interoperability, the science behind public health recommendations, and pharmaceutical advances in the rare disease space. When students return to McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston this year, they will get to participate in hands-on nutrition experiences, including cooking demonstrations in the teaching kitchen, tours of the campus “holistic garden,” and the opportunity to take a culinary-medicine-focused elective. These immersive programs are a response to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s call for medical schools to teach more nutrition — part of the Trump administration’s push to address the rising rates of chronic diseases in the United States. Kennedy has blamed the problem, in part, on doctors not routinely discussing diet and nutrition with their patients.Advertisement Lessons in culinary medicine are part of the 71 nutrition-related topics that the Department of Health and Human Services wants future physicians to be well versed in. Other topics in the department’s Advancing Nutrition Education push include enhancing nutrient bioavailability through soaking, sprouting, and fermenting foods as well as prioritizing food-based medicine as the primary approach to manage chronic diseases driven by metabolic dysfunction. The vast majority of 163 M.D.-granting and 48 D.O.-granting schools aren’t yet part of Kennedy’s new initiative, including several leading institutions. So far, some 73 medical schools — 54 M.D. programs, 19 D.O. programs — across 36 states have signed on. Even as some medical schools heed Kennedy’s call for more nutrition education, several told STAT that they plan to steer clear of topics that aren’t backed by evidence, including some that align with the priorities of the Make America Healthy Again political movement championed by the health secretary. Nutrition experts cautioned that some of those topics could lead to “wellness creep” in medical education. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In chronic disease, education, HHS, Physicians, Policy, public health, RFK Jr., STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Lauren Chan AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow Lauren writes about healthcare AI data interoperability, the science behind public health recommendations, and pharmaceutical advances in the rare disease space. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended First Opinion July 27, 2026 E-bikes, e-scooters are a burgeoning pediatric public health emergency First Opinion July 27, 2026 How midwives like me can help fight medical misinformation Advertisement Biotech July 27, 2026 STAT Plus: Argenx to buy Forte Biosciences for $2.2B First Opinion July 24, 2026 I led the FDA’s food safety and nutrition center. Here’s what people are missing about the cyclospora outbreak Health July 24, 2026 FDA advisory panel narrowly rejects compounding of one peptide, backs two others Subscriber Picks