from cardiovascular disease. In 2010, cardiovascular 
disease cost American taxpayers $189.4 billion. The 
American Heart Association estimates that, by 
2035, costs related to cardiovascular disease will tri-
ple to around $1.1 trillion. Research has shown that 
following a healthful diet can not only reduce symp-
toms related to heart disease but also reverse the 
damage done to the arteries. 
(7) Two-thirds of the American population is 
currently overweight, half of whom are obese. One in 
three children is now overweight, and one-fifth of 
children are obese. In 2008, the United States spent 
$190 billion on obesity-related health care costs. 
(8) An estimated 29 million Americans have di-
abetes. Another 86 million adults have prediabetes. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pre-
dict that one in three children born in 2000 will de-
velop diabetes at some point in their lives. Diabetes 
cost the government $116 billion in 2007. Research 
has shown that nutrition therapy is a key component 
of diabetes management and can improve clinical 
outcomes. 
(9) Cancer kills approximately 570,000 Ameri-
cans each year, accounting for one in every four 
deaths. More than 1.5 million new cancer cases are 
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diagnosed annually. In 2010, the direct costs of can-
cer were $102.8 billion and that number is expected 
to rise to $172 billion by 2020. More than 33 per-
cent of cancers are diet related and could be pre-
vented with a healthful diet. 
(10) Eating is a complex social phenomenon in-
fluenced by family, social networks, culture, socio-
economic and educational status. An interprofes-
sional approach to nutrition education for clinicians 
may not necessarily overcome these forces but may 
help the health professions team, including physi-
cians and non-physicians, identify effective strategies 
for nutrition counseling and management. 
(11) Physicians are an important source of in-
formation and motivation for patients’ health behav-
ior. Multiple studies have shown that physician 
counseling on weight loss increases the likelihood 
that patients will attempt weight loss, increase phys-
ical activity, improve diet, and lose weight. 
(12) Leading medical bodies recommend that 
physicians address diet with overweight patients. 
Guidelines from leading medical bodies such as the 
National Institutes of Health, the American Heart 
Association, the American College of Cardiology, and 
the Obesity Society recommend that physicians 
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counsel overweight and obese patients on the bene-
fits of lifestyle changes through lifestyle changes 
such as diet and physical activity. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS PROGRAM TO DEVELOP OR ENHANCE IN-
TEGRATED NUTRITION CURRICULA IN MED-
ICAL SCHOOLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the 
Health Resources and Services Administration and in con-
junction with the National Institutes of Health National 
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, shall establish a com-
petitive grants program under which the Secretary may 
award grants to medical schools in the United States for 
the purpose described in subsection (b)(1). 
(b) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A medical school receiving a 
grant under this section shall use the grant to create 
new or expand existing integrated nutrition and 
physical activity curriculum described in paragraph 
(2) for the medical school. 
(2) INTEGRATED
NUTRITION
CURRICULUM.— 
For purposes of paragraph (1), an integrated nutri-
tion and physical activity curriculum— 
(A) shall be designed based on the best 
possible evidence to improve communication and 
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provider preparedness in the prevention, man-
agement, and, as possible, reversal of obesity, 
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer; 
and 
(B) shall, to the greatest extent prac-
ticable, address such additional topics, including 
nutrition across the life cycle of individuals who 
are members of at-risk populations, physical ac-
tivity training and programs for such individ-
uals, food insecurity among such individuals, 
and malnutrition among such individuals. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall— 
(1) be a medical school in the United States 
that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Med-
ical Education and Residency Program Accreditation 
Council for Graduate Education or by the American 
Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic 
College Accreditation; and 
(2) submit an application to the Secretary, in 
accordance with such time, form, and manner and 
containing such information as specified by the Sec-
retary, including— 
(A) a description of how the medical school 
intends to implement the integrated nutrition 
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and physical activity curriculum described in 
subsection (b)(2); and 
(B) a description of benchmarks to meas-
ure the success of the implementation of such 
curriculum. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.— 
(1) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—A grant awarded 
to a medical school under this section shall be for a 
three-year period, beginning on the date of the es-
tablishment of the grants program under subsection 
(a). 
(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) GRANT AMOUNTS.—A grant awarded 
to a medical school under this section may not 
exceed $500,000. 
(B) ONE GRANT PER SCHOOL.—A medical 
school shall not be eligible for more than one 
grant under this section and may not renew 
such a grant. 
(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to medical schools— 
(A) that submit applications under sub-
section (c)(1) that describe an integrated nutri-
tion and physical activity curriculum that will 
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be implemented through the use of such a 
grant— 
(i) that is coordinated with a resi-
dency program; or 
(ii) provides that students of such 
school should receive at least 25 hours of 
nutrition education; or 
(B) that, for purposes of carrying out such 
curriculum through the use of such a grant, 
partner with education programs for both phy-
sicians and non-physician health professionals. 
(e) REPORTS.— 
(1) PERIODIC REPORTS DURING GRANTS PRO-
GRAM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—For each school year 
ending during the duration of the grants pro-
gram under this section, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report on the grants pro-
gram. 
(B) REPORT ELEMENTS.—Each such re-
port shall include— 
(i) the findings and conclusions of the 
Secretary with respect to the integration of 
nutrition and physical activity curriculum 
into the curriculum of the medical schools 
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receiving a grant under the grants pro-
gram; 
(ii) an assessment of the benefits of 
the grants program for— 
(I) establishing best practices for 
providers to advise patients in the 
clinical setting; 
(II) providing greater nutrition 
and physical activity awareness to 
physicians and other health profes-
sionals and patients of such physi-
cians and professionals; and 
(III) improving healthfulness of 
patients’ diets and improving patient 
health outcomes; and 
(iii) suggestions on how to promote 
the integration of nutrition curriculum in 
medical schools around the United States. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the last day of the grants program under this 
section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re-
port detailing the recommendations of the Secretary 
as to any benefits or barriers of integrating nutrition 
and physical activity curriculum at both the medical 
school and residency levels. 
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(f) FUNDING.—No additional funds are authorized to 
carry out the requirements of this section. The Secretary 
shall carry out such requirements by using, from amounts 
otherwise authorized or appropriated, up to $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2020. 
Æ 
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