WASHINGTON, D.C. — Half of U.S. adults say they know eating a plant-based diet can improve their health and help prevent chronic diseases, according to a new Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult survey . However, the survey also showed that just 1 in 5 primary care practitioners discuss this lifesaving message with patients.
The poll included 2,203 U.S. adults surveyed April 15 to April 16, 2025.
Xavier Toledo, a registered dietitian with the Physicians Committee, a health advocacy group with 17,000 physician members, lauded the findings, which show most people recognize the health benefits of plant-based eating.
“What’s missing,” Mr. Toledo said, “is support and guidance from health care professionals. This represents a huge missed opportunity to turn interest into action—and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases that affect millions.”
When asked if they’d be willing to try a plant-based diet if shown evidence of its benefits, 65% of survey respondents said they would.
A wealth of studies supports this, including:
For those ready to get started on a plant-based diet, the Physicians Committee has a free Vegan Starter Kit that contains recipes, links to resources, and more. The organization also publishes a list of plant-based health care providers.
To fill the gaps in medical schools, the Physicians Committee offers plant-based education tools to medical and nursing students to increase awareness of nutrition education in educational institutions. And the organization recently praised New York legislators for introducing a bill to ensure physicians are kept informed about the latest continuing medical education opportunities in nutrition, which will help doctors in the state improve patient health outcomes and reduce racial disparities for the millions of New Yorkers struggling with diet-related diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Note to reporters: To arrange an interview with Mr. Toledo, please contact Kim Kilbride at 202-717-8665 or kkilbride@pcrm.org .
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