A new study published by the journal Clinical Obesity shares some positive news in the emerging field of obesity medicine and for patients wanting help with weight management.
The new study tells us that physicians certified through the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) are using their knowledge and skills to offer evidence-based obesity care, consisting of treatments and services, which are supported by clinical practice guidelines. ABOM also shared the study findings in a recent news update about the study.
But why is this news significant? For two reasons:
- This study is the first of its kind to look at how physicians trained in obesity treatment are actually using their certification.
- It tells us that evidence-based obesity care is being more widely accepted and used in healthcare, which is great news for patients seeking help with weight management.
What is Evidence-based Obesity Care?
Evidence-based obesity care is about giving patients science-backed options to treat their obesity and manage their weight. In other words, it’s not about recommending the latest fad diet or telling patients to simply eat less and move more. Instead, evidence-based obesity care takes into account a patient’s unique biology and circumstances to provide options that work best for them.
The study mentioned above surveyed more than 490 ABOM-certified physicians and found that most approve of and also use evidence-based obesity care in their practice, including:
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
- Behavioral and mental health services
- FDA-approved obesity medications
- Bariatric surgery
In addition, the majority of physicians offered services that adhere to several clinical practice guidelines established by groups such as:
- American Heart Association (AHA)
- American College of Cardiology (ACC)
- American College of Endocrinology (ACE)
- The Obesity Society (TOS)
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
- Obesity Medicine Association (OMA)
Hope for the Future
ABOM board member and study co-author Edmond “Trey” Wickham says it best in ABOM’s news update about the study:
“For an emerging field such as obesity medicine, these findings are a significant step forward showing that doctors certified through ABOM are using their knowledge to implement care based on best practices to treat obesity. Knowing this, we believe physicians referring patients to ABOM diplomats can have high confidence that those patients will get the evidence-based care and treatment they need to successfully treat their obesity.”
If you’re wondering how to find an ABOM-certified physician, the OAC’s Obesity Care Provider Locator has a rich provider database with many healthcare providers who hold the certification. You can search for one by zip code, distance, provider type, and more. Visit ObesityCareProviders.com to learn more and start your search today.