The Washington Post Highlights ASPEN’s Role in Malnutrition Awareness
The Washington Post recently reported that malnutrition has become the fastest-growing cause of death in the United States over the past decade, particularly among adults aged 85 and older. The article cites ASPEN and underscores how our guidelines, education, and Malnutrition Awareness WeekTM efforts have contributed to increased recognition, diagnosis, and documentation of malnutrition. Here is an article abstract for your reference.
As part of the ASPEN community, your work contributed to this progress. Together, we have helped elevate malnutrition as a critical public health issue and advance awareness across clinical, policy, and community settings.
We will continue to build on this momentum by advancing key priorities from our strategic plan, including:
- Education – expanding evidence-based learning through our annual conference, live and virtual webinars, courses, and clinical content
- Advocacy – amplifying policy efforts to improve nutrition care and reduce malnutrition burden
- Research – promoting and supporting research that advances clinical nutrition knowledge
- Membership and community building – engaging the nutrition care community across disciplines
- Clinical practice – developing and disseminating guidance that drives safe, effective nutrition care
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to raising awareness about malnutrition and enhancing patient care. I hope to see you in Long Beach, CA, for our ASPEN 2026 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference. Mark your calendar for MAW 2026, September 14–18!
Sincerely,
Kathleen Gura, PharmD, BCNSP, FASHP, FPPA, FASPEN, FMSHP
ASPEN President
