Number of Physicians Applying for Obesity Medicine Certification Soars to Nearly 900
American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) reports 22% increase in
obesity medicine certification applications
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Diets?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#Dietslt;/agt;–Interest in obesity medicine continues to rise as nearly 900 physicians
apply for certification. That’s according to the American
Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), which reports today that 890
physicians have applied to take the 2019 ABOM certification
exam. Physicians who successfully complete certification are designated
Diplomates of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
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. The number of applicants represents
a more than 22 percent increase from the previous class of applicants.
Over the past two years, more than 1,600 doctors have applied for ABOM
certification.
“The board was created in 2011 with a vision that all patients with
obesity will someday have access to quality care,” said John Cleek,
M.D., Chairman of the ABOM Board of Directors. “With ABOM’s
continued growth, we are getting closer to that goal.”
The 2019 exam candidates represent more than a dozen fields of medicine,
including: internal medicine (36%); family medicine (29%); surgery (5%);
endocrinology (5%); pediatrics (5%); and OB/GYN (4%). The diplomate
candidates come from 45 states and include 39 physicians from Canada.
The 2019 test will be administered February 25-28, 2019, at
computer-based testing centers throughout the United States and Canada.
“It is encouraging to see the sustained growth of physicians choosing to
engage in the obesity medicine certification process,” said ABOM
Executive Director Dana Brittan, MBA. “It shows that obesity medicine
has gained a strong foothold within the medical community, and the
certification process is providing a valuable resource to physicians
looking to help their patients battle the obesity epidemic.”
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, but most have little or no
training in weight management and nutrition.
The ABOM was founded in 2011 to serve the public and the field of
obesity medicine by maintaining standards for the assessment and
credentialing of candidate physicians who seek recognition of their
accomplishments in obesity medicine. Today, there are more than 2,650
certified obesity medicine physicians throughout the United States and
Canada.
The continued increase in the number of physicians across multiple
specialties seeking ABOM diplomate status demonstrates significant
interest from the medical community in understanding effective treatment
options and practical tools for obesity and weight management. Obesity
medicine 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.
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.
Contacts
Armada Medical Marketing
Dan Snyders, 303-623-1190 x230
dan@armadamedical.com
