Rampant nutrition misinformation undermines food as medicine movement, flags report

31 Mar 2022 --- An abundance of misleading nutrition information is breeding distrust in the food as medicine approach. This is according to a comprehensive report by the Center for Food As Medicine and the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center. 

At least 60% of US consumers turn to the internet as a source of medical information, reveals the analysis, where “baseless trends and sensationalist news create opportunities for misinformation to proliferate, providing information that may sometimes be dangerous.”

The 335-page US-focused academic narrative is hailed as the “first-ever” academic narrative of the food as medicine movement, containing 2,500 citations. 

The document aims to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and the use of food as medicine in the prevention and treatment of disease in modern society. 

Along with challenges to accomplishing this, the report makes 10 key recommendations to policymakers, healthcare professionals and academics to contribute to a healthier, more equitable healthcare system.

Many medical schools in the US do not require students to take basic nutrition courses.Roots of the food gap 
Widely spread inaccurate information regarding nutrition may begin with too little dietary focus from top medical and governmental authorities. 

Despite the “overwhelming evidence” demonstrating the impact of food and diet on health, many medical schools across the country do not require that students take basic nutrition courses, the report points out.

“Without diet-related training, healthcare providers may lack confidence and knowledge when speaking to patients about using food as a treatment to manage disease.”

Moreover, The American Dietary Guidelines have long been influenced by large food corporations and interest groups. 

“They do not always reflect the state of the science regarding the relationship between diet and health. These guidelines are incredibly important because they influence the nutritional standards of meals and foods provided across the country,” the report highlights. 

Lastly, marketing and health claims printed on packaged food available at the store can confuse consumers’ understanding of the impact of food and diet on disease, the authors assert. 

Filling the void
Skeptics of the modern healthcare system have expressed frustration that their desire to learn about alternative treatment options, including dietary intervention, was largely ignored by traditional healthcare providers, including physicians. 

In the absence of support from the medical system, the internet provides a plethora of both information and misinformation for consumers. 

The report advocates incentives to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables within the US.Separate research published in the peer-reviewed PLOS One journal found that in the US, women, young users, users with a university education and non-smokers are the most likely demographics to use the internet and mobile applications for health-related purposes. 

The survey also found internet users most frequently search for pharmacies, symptoms of medical conditions and pain. Also, they are most interested in information on how to live a healthy life, alternative medicine, mental health and women’s health. 

False credibility
As consumers wade through nutrition information, many health-related blogs and websites use experts with advanced health degrees to win trust with the readers. 

However, this type of information may still be corroborated or make inaccurate claims, since websites, blogs and social media are not governed by any regulatory agency to ensure accurate information.

“Nutrition misinformation can be disseminated with false intent to sell products or promote a personal philosophy or that of a special-interest group,” the authors write. 

In parallel, research by the Institute of Medicine indicates that approximately half the adults in the US lack the ability to make informed decisions regarding their health, a phenomenon that has been called a “health literacy epidemic.” 

Suggestions to improve
The report’s authors suggest that action should be taken from the top to incorporate evidence-based health foods into the public’s diet. These ten recommendations aim to bring more credibility and science to US nutritional authorities and regulation.

1. Increase governmental funding for food as medicine research.
2. Aggregate and coordinate current food as medicine programs operating in the US. 
3. Create, curate and update disease-specific food as medicine research and resources.
4. Develop a robust infrastructure of experts who can monitor and navigate existing research and translate it to physicians, healthcare providers, caregivers and patients.
5. Mandate education about nutrition and the role of diet in the prevention and treatment of disease within educational curricula for physicians and health care providers. 
6. Hospitals must advance food as medicine and integrate dietary evidence for the prevention and treatment of disease into institutional practice. 
7. Enhance and advance public awareness of the role of food in relation to the prevention and treatment of disease.
8. Increase community access to culturally appropriate, unprocessed, fresh fruits and vegetables. 
9. Increase federal funding for the development and expansion of a wide variety of food as medicine programs, including medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions and nutrition incentives. 
10. Expand and improve federal, state and local policies that promote food and diet in the prevention and treatment of disease.

By Missy Green