This document has been endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians and was developed in cooperation with the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, the Association of Family Practice Residency Directors and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Proper nutrition plays a major role in wellness and in disease prevention, in addition to being a therapeutic arm in the treatment program for medical, surgical and emotional illness. All physicians should develop a thorough knowledge of all aspects of nutrition. Poor nutrition can cause disease. Family, ethnic and religious attitudes affect the nutritional behavior of patients.
Socioeconomic factors play an important role in both nutritional excess and deficiency.
The life cycle requires different nutritional considerations at different times. Nutritionists and dietitians play an important role in the health care team, specifically in the areas of the patient's nutritional status, education and disease prevention. The implementation of these core educational guidelines should be longitudinal and integrated into patient care and didactic conferences. Appropriate nutritional status of the patient should be included as part of case presentations to emphasize the importance of nutrition in health and disease. When possible, qualified nutrition professionals should be used to teach and assist residents with dietary counseling.