Oct. 10, 2012 – American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Propose Staged System for Education and Training in Obesity Medicine for Clinical Endocrinologists (www.aace.com/files/position-statements/obesity.pdf)
The Obesity Society (TOS) and the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) welcome the announcement by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) that they are intensifying their efforts to educate physicians about the causes and treatment of obesity. TOS and OMA have long been the leading scientific and clinical organizations dedicated to the study and treatment of obesity.
Over the past three years, a coalition of multiple organizations worked together to develop the ABOM (American Board of Obesity Medicine), a comprehensive certification program designed to create a group of physicians with a deep understanding of obesity evaluation and treatment. We believe that the creation and success of such a qualified group of certified obesity professionals will improve patient care and further the expertise and breadth of the field of practice. In support of the ABOM exam, OMA and TOS have each developed a portfolio of courses and materials to help candidates prepare and are encouraged to see others like AACE joining the charge.
TOS and OMA believe that internal medicine, family medicine, OB/GYN and pediatric physicians will be the largest group of providers who will become certified by ABOM and that this larger group of primary care doctors is needed in order to help provide better clinical care to help control the obesity epidemic. The addition of a group of internal medicine clinicians from AACE with special expertise in diabetes, metabolism and obesity will strengthen the efforts of organized medicine to take on obesity in a coordinated fashion. TOS and OMA salute AACE on joining this vitally important challenge to take on the number one health issue facing Americans in the 21st century.