A Retrospective Analysis of American Dietitian Financial Donations to Political Parties

Background: Political advocacy surrounding healthcare policy has become increasingly relevant as key platform issues focus on preventive care and the impact of nutrition health outcomes. Contributions from individuals political action committees are pivotal in determining direction advocacy. Objective: This study aimed to examine trends contributions U.S. dietitians years 2003-2021. Methods: was a retrospective review using 2003-2021 cycles Federal Election Commission (FEC) database. were filtered for occupation lines matching either “registered dietitian nutritionist,” dietitian,” “rdn,” “rd,” “dietitian,” “dietetic.” Each contribution is designated recipient committee associated with candidate, group, or committee. The party designations these used catalog donations “Republican,” “Democratic,” “Independent.” Results: From 2003-2021, total 1,612 made ADAPAC/ANDPAC by self-identified dietitians. then directed donations, making 1,372 Democratic (857) Republican (514) candidates only 1 donation an independent candidate $1,685,977. Excluding ADAPAC/ANDPAC, 115,407 individual dietetic (103,061), (12,010), Independent (34), bipartisan/nonpartisan (1,896), Green (7), Libertarian (8) committees. Individual parties totaled $3,148,371, dollar amount ($2,304,918) almost triple ($792,516). Conclusion: Dietitian have increased over past two decades. Donations largely polarized skewed towards Party. Future studies warranted identify how this changes policies.