Washington, D.C. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva yesterday introduced the Education and Training (EAT) for Health Act to encourage a stronger focus on nutrition and disease prevention in medical education. The bill requires new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines that ensure federally employed physicians and nurses learn more about about the role of nutrition in preventing cancer, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease in their continuing education programs.

The bill, also listed as HR 4378, is co-sponsored by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio).

Physicians are already required to get a certain number of continuing medical education credit hours each year. The bill makes sure some of those hours are spent learning about nutrition without adding any new hour requirements to existing standards. A comprehensive fact sheet is available at http://1.usa.gov/1ikbQw8.

“This isn’t just about keeping medical costs down, although that’s an important goal,” Rep. Grijalva said. “More than anything, it’s about making sure Americans get the best advice about healthy living as well as medication and surgery. We can prevent diseases and injuries and live longer, healthier lives by making good lifestyle choices, and our medical professionals can help make that happen. That’s what this bill is about, and that’s why I’m proud to introduce it.”

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. A briefing in conjunction with Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is scheduled for Friday, April 4, at noon in Rayburn B-338 in Washington.