Updated Dietary Guidelines Pose Challenges for Hospitals

Health systems aim to translate population-level recommendations into practical advice for patients

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The recently updated federal nutrition guidelines emphasize whole foods, reducing added sugars, and cooking more at home. However, clinicians and health systems say the real challenge is making these recommendations work in everyday patient care. Hospitals and health systems are grappling with how to translate population-level guidance into practical advice that fits patients' individual needs, lifestyles, and health conditions.

Why it matters

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated every 5 years to inform federal nutrition policy and provide recommendations on what Americans should eat to promote health and prevent chronic disease. As major providers of nutrition counseling and education, hospitals and health systems play a critical role in applying these guidelines in ways that protect public health and meet the needs of diverse patient populations.

The details

While the updated guidelines emphasize nutrient-dense foods, reduced added sugars, fiber intake, microbiome health, and limiting saturated fat, clinicians say some of the new recommendations may be harder for patients to translate into action. For example, the guidelines no longer include the visual "plate method" that many found helpful, and they stop short of defining what daily servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should look like on a dinner plate. Health systems must now decide whether to adopt the new targets broadly or to individualize recommendations more carefully based on each patient's needs.

  • The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated every 5 years.

The players

Abeer Bader

Lead clinical nutrition specialist at the Mass General Weight Center in Boston.

Deanne Brandstetter

President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which supports the guidelines' emphasis on nutrient-dense foods but has concerns about certain elements that could complicate implementation.

Kaiser Permanente

A large health system that says it continues to anchor patient guidance in long-standing evidence-based nutrition principles, even as it evaluates the updated federal recommendations.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I love that the guidelines emphasize whole foods, reducing added sugars, and cooking more at home using herbs, spices, and healthier methods. This isn't just about nutrition. It's about creating enjoyable, sustainable habits that support long-term health.”

— Abeer Bader, Lead clinical nutrition specialist at the Mass General Weight Center (medscape.com)

“Some of the recommendations in the DGA are not aligned with the current body of evidence and will create challenges for implementation, particularly across federal nutrition programs that serve millions of Americans.”

— Deanne Brandstetter, President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (medscape.com)

“Our dietary recommendations are grounded in evidence-based approaches and are tailored to the individual needs, lifestyle, and goals of each patient.”

— Kaiser Permanente (medscape.com)

What’s next

Health systems are continuing to evaluate the updated federal dietary guidelines and determine how to best incorporate the new recommendations into their patient care and nutrition counseling practices.

The takeaway

Translating population-level dietary guidance into practical, actionable advice for patients remains a significant challenge for hospitals and health systems. Effective implementation will require individualized approaches that address the structural barriers shaping people's food choices, not just personal behavior change.