The Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday that eight medical school accrediting organizations have agreed to increase nutrition education requirements across U.S. medical education programs.

According to HHS, the organizations committed to expanding nutrition requirements "at every level of U.S. medical education, competency-evaluation, training, and residency." The announcement represents a coordinated effort to enhance nutrition education for future physicians.

The initiative appears to address long-standing concerns about the limited nutrition training typically provided in medical school curricula. Medical education has traditionally focused heavily on disease treatment rather than prevention through nutrition.

HHS did not immediately specify which organizations signed the agreement or provide details about the timeline for implementation of the new requirements. The department also did not outline specific curriculum changes or additional course hours that would be required under the expanded nutrition education standards.