Obesity rates have been on the rise globally since 1975, with a threefold increase in the number of individuals affected. This surge in obesity has brought about a myriad of interconnected issues, including food insecurity, diet-related illnesses, the proliferation of fad diets, and a booming market for weight loss supplements. Stephen Devries, the Executive Director of the Gaples Institute, attributes this rise in obesity to the prevalence of ultra-processed foods that are cheap and easily accessible in today’s society.
During his medical training, Devries noticed a significant gap in the curriculum when it came to nutritional and dietary education. To address this deficiency, Devries and his team founded the Gaples Institute with the mission of promoting the role of nutrition and lifestyle in medicine through education and advocacy. Devries emphasizes the importance of prioritizing nutrition, as a poor-quality diet is currently the leading risk factor for death in the United States.
The rise in ultra-processed food options has led to a surge in health issues and overweight populations, prompting many individuals to turn to quick-fix diets and fad solutions that often lack scientific support. Devries highlights the barriers to accessing health-promoting foods, such as lack of availability, affordability, or transportation, that many Americans face on a daily basis.
The Gaples Institute offers nutrition courses that cover a wide range of topics, including analysis of fad diets, evidence-based dietary patterns, and social determinants of food and nutrition insecurity. The curriculum is regularly updated to provide clinicians with the most up-to-date and clinically relevant nutrition information available. The course has already been integrated into the curriculum at nine medical schools across the country, with plans for further expansion.
Devries advocates for health professionals to screen patients for food and nutrition insecurity, provide nutritious food options at healthcare facilities, and offer referrals to community food resources. The Gaples Institute also offers courses for the public, guided by the same experts who teach the medical school courses. Devries’s advice to the general public is to focus on eating foods found in nature with minimal processing, as more than 50 percent of calories consumed by adults come from ultra-processed foods.
While Devries acknowledges the value of pharmaceuticals and advanced medical technology, he stresses the importance of prioritizing nutrition in healthcare. He believes that high-tech therapies cannot overcome the negative effects of a poor-quality diet. By integrating food and medicine, health professionals can make a significant impact on improving overall health and well-being.
In conclusion, the rise in obesity rates globally has brought about a host of interconnected issues that need to be addressed. The Gaples Institute is at the forefront of promoting nutrition and lifestyle education in medicine, with the goal of empowering individuals to make healthier choices and combat the obesity epidemic. Through education, advocacy, and community outreach, the Gaples Institute is working towards a healthier future for all.
