American Board of Obesity Medicine Surpasses 2,000 Diplomates

Actualizado: 30 Nov 2023, 12:56 PM EST Publicado: 16 Feb 2017, 10:53 AM EST

Field of obesity medicine gains recognition as ABOM announces more
than 480 new diplomates

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#hospitals–The number of physicians who are board certified in obesity medicine now
exceeds 2,000 in the U.S. and Canada. The 2,000 diplomates milestone was
achieved as a record 486 examinees passed the American
Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) certification test administered in
December 2016. That makes obesity medicine one of the fastest growing
fields in medicine and represents a 31 percent increase in ABOM
diplomates over the previous year.

Officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association
in 2013, obesity now affects nearly 35
percent of U.S. adults, contributing to heart disease, cancer,
diabetes, stroke and other musculoskeletal and vascular problems. Most
doctors want to help patients lose weight, according to a recent
survey, but most also admit they have little or no training in
weight management and nutrition.

“As an organization, ABOM is committed to using the certification
process to increase patient access to physicians who are qualified to
treat this disease,” said ABOM Executive Director Dana Brittan.
“Eventually, we would like to see an obesity medicine physician in every
community across the U.S. and Canada. With today’s announcement, we are
closer to that goal.”

Obesity is a complex disease that requires specialized knowledge to
manage effectively. However, many physicians are more comfortable
treating the problems caused by obesity rather than the disease itself.
The rise in the number of physicians from numerous specialties achieving
ABOM diplomate status shows that there is significant interest from the
medical community in training in effective treatment options and
practical tools for obesity and weight management. ABOM certification
also has the potential to add value to hospitals and other medical
institutions that want to demonstrate the knowledge and expertise their
staff brings to patient care and research.

“The rapid growth of obesity medicine shows physicians increasingly
understand that obesity is a disease that directly impacts their
patients’ health,” said ABOM Board Chairman Louis
J. Aronne, M.D. “Being able to treat obesity – and not just the
diseases it contributes to – is an increasingly important part of
clinical practice.”

The 486 physicians who passed the most recent ABOM certification exam
include internists (174), family physicians (151), endocrinologists
(30), surgeons (24), pediatricians (22), obstetricians/gynecologists
(20) and gastroenterologists (13), along with numerous other specialists.

ABOM diplomates use their certification in many ways, with some
incorporating obesity medicine into their everyday practices and others
devoting themselves full time to the treatment of obesity. Furthermore,
the number of first-time ABOM certificates issued annually now exceeds
those of other fields such as infectious disease, endocrinology and
rheumatology.

Certification as an ABOM diplomate signifies specialized knowledge in
the practice of obesity medicine and distinguishes a physician as having
achieved competency in obesity care.

About the American Board of Obesity Medicine

The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) serves the public and
the field of obesity medicine through the examination and certification
of candidate physicians who seek recognition of their accomplishments
and knowledge in obesity medicine. Physicians who complete the ABOM
certification process are designated Diplomates of the
American Board of Obesity Medicine. To find an ABOM-certified obesity
medicine physician, search our Directory
of Diplomates. For more information about how ABOM
certification can benefit you or your practice, visit www.abom.org,
call 303-770-9100 or connect with us on Facebook,
Twitter
or LinkedIn.