DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) announced that a record number of physicians have applied to take the 2018 ABOM certification exam. 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.
A total of 724 physicians have applied to sit for the test, which will be administered February 26 through March 1, 2018, at computer-based testing centers throughout the United States and Canada. The number of applicants represents a more than 22 percent increase from the previous class of applicants. Over the past two years, more than 1,300 doctors have applied for ABOM certification.
“We are excited to see the continued interest of physicians looking to become certified in obesity medicine,” said Dr. Louis J. Aronne, ABOM Board Chairman, Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center and the Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research at Weill Cornell Medicine, and an obesity expert at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “The certification process requires doctors to take initiative and learn about a complex disease that is often overlooked in exam rooms. In the end, this wave of interest means patients affected by obesity will have more access to quality care.”
The 2018 exam candidates represent more than a dozen fields of medicine, including: internal medicine (38%); family medicine (30%); endocrinology (7%); pediatrics (7%); OB/GYN (5%); and surgery (3%). The candidates come from 48 states and include 27 physicians from Canada.
“It’s exciting to see ABOM continue to grow, especially during a time that has seen other medical fields challenged to engage physicians in the maintenance-of-certification process,” said ABOM Executive Director Dana Brittan, MBA. “The growth of obesity medicine certification signals that the medical community is ready and willing to recognize obesity as a disease that can be treated and the value of training in this emerging field of medicine.”
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 began overseeing the certification process for obesity medicine physicians in 2011. Today, there are more than 2,000 certified obesity medicine physicians throughout the United States and Canada. Physicians who successfully complete ABOM certification are designated Diplomates of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
The increase in the number of physicians across multiple specialties seeking ABOM diplomate status demonstrates a 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.
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.
