[cco]

A closer reading of the intervention shows that it wasn't _just_ "more calories".

But I think that is missing the forest for the trees, what this study showed is that when a patient is left on their own, they consume an inadequate diet that _puts their health at risk_ in a hospital. By a big margin!

I would imagine, though the study didn't show this, that the primary factor in recovery here was having a human (dietician) actually paying attention to your recovery. On intake they put together a plan, and followed up routinely to ensure that the patient has consuming their diet.

The GP's point is valid, hospitals are missing out on a 50% increase in health outcomes because they're letting patients fend for themselves with regard to nutrition. You're right that it isn't as easy as spending $6 per meal vs $3 to buy "better" food. But what it means is that hospitals are failing their patients because they aren't thinking and acting with a holistic eye towards patient outcomes.