Nutrition push stalls as dietitian workforce shrinks and wages lag

The Make America Healthy Again campaign, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to revamp American diets by highlighting protein, reducing processed foods, and overhauling meals in schools, military bases and hospitals. Dietitians warn that chronic low wages, limited coverage from Medicare and Medicaid, and a recent federal cap on graduate loans are making the field unattractive, with enrollment in accredited programs dropping 39% over the past decade and many internship slots remaining empty.

The average salary for registered dietitians stays well below that of comparable health professionals, prompting graduates such as JaKyra Allen to seek higher-paying jobs in other states. Upcoming CMS rules that will require hospitals to report nutrition data could boost demand for dietitians but offer no funding, risking overload and burnout. Meanwhile, the bipartisan Medical Nutrition Therapy Act seeks to broaden Medicare eligibility for nutrition counseling, though its progress remains stalled. Dietitians argue that without a stronger workforce, the administration’s nutrition reforms may fall short of improving public health.