Nutrition Deficits and Profit of Prescriptions #NNM (National Nutrition Month)

 

            Looking at the leading causes of death in the U.S., presents repeating problems which have failed to be fully addressed by healthcare practitioners and medical authorities.  Heart disease consistently appears to be at the top of the list, followed closely by cancer.  Chronic lower-respiratory disease ranks third, stroke fourth, diabetes seventh and kidney disease ninth.  Increasing research has been drawing stronger conclusions that nutrition can play a major role in the development, prevention and treatment of these conditions.  Despite strong scientific backing, nutrition seems to be continually pushed to the backburner when it comes to managing these and other chronic conditions.  The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine reports that while ninety percent of doctors believe nutrition counseling should be a part of primary care visits, fewer than fifteen percent feel qualified to provide such advice.  The Committee goes on to state that less than a third of medical schools met the minimum standard for twenty five contact hours in nutrition education, set by the National Academy of Sciences in 1985 (1).  Our healthcare system is long overdue for enhancing nutrition’s role in promoting health and wellness.  The “Enrich Act”, proposed by Representative, Tim Ryan with thirteen co-sponsors, intended to provide a    $15 million grant program to at least thirty medical schools, ensuring they met the twenty five hour minimum; unfortunately, this Act died before being put to a vote in congress (2).  Prescriptions largely remain the primary treatment for dealing with chronic disease, and it’s a highly-funded course of action.  The pharmaceutical giants, Pfizer, Merck and Sanofi spent upwards of $3.5 million combined in lobbying for the 2013-2014 fiscal year (3).  Nutrition lacks this tremendous financial boost, and unfortunately the promotion that goes along with it.  It’s high time to shift priorities for the betterment of public health. 

References

1.http://pcrm.org/lf/enrich/

2.https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr4427

3.http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?Ind=H