At the Nordic Federation of Medical Education congress on nutrition held at Lund in April 1991, it was agreed that nutrition should be allotted adequate space within the framework both of the preclinical and clinical curricula. A proposal was presented whereby a basic course in nutrition would be scheduled early in the general medical curriculum, together with clinical nutrition both integrated with other suitable clinical subjects and as a self-contained subject. The physician's role in a preventive capacity in the public health sector was discussed, as were research aspects of the subject.