Obesity Medicine Physicians: The Real Weight Loss Experts

doctor smiling and talking to patient

These days, it seems like everyone from celebrities to fitness gurus proclaim to be weight loss experts. The truth is, real medical weight loss programs are backed by years of training—not fads or mystery diets. Using proven techniques and sound medical research, weight loss physicians help obese children and adults lose weight and develop healthier lifestyles.

What is an Obesity Medicine Physician?

An obesity medicine physician or for short–an obesity doctor, is a medical weight loss doctor who specializes in the treatment of obesity and its associated conditions. Obesity doctors can help prevent, and more importantly, reverse obesity-related diseases. This can be done by reducing body fat responsible for the disease processes while maintaining muscle mass.

How Are Obesity Medicine Physicians Trained?

All obesity medicine physicians are board certified in at least one field in addition to weight loss. For example, a doctor who provides childhood obesity help may be board-certified in family medicine in addition to obesity medicine. 

Obesity medicine physicians are trained by The Obesity Medicine Association. Training involves undergoing several hundred credit hours of training in obesity and metabolism and sitting for an oral and written exam. While some weight management doctors may refer to themselves as weight loss experts, only board-certified obesity medicine physicians have had the rigorous training mentioned above.

Obesity doctors also have training in nutrition, exercise physiology, and fat metabolism. These areas of expertise are not traditionally addressed during a medical school education. This additional training helps obesity medicine physicians approach weight loss holistically which is more likely to provide long-term results. 

What Does an Obesity Medicine Physician Do?

Obesity medicine physicians are more than just diet doctors. As medical weight loss doctors, they focus on the reversal of disease processes. They are educated on all factors that may contribute to obesity and work to resolve the risks associated with being overweight. For example, instead of writing a prescription for high blood pressure and high cholesterol medications, an obesity medicine physician may help a patient lose enough weight to resolve these complications overall. 

Obesity medicine physicians guide patients through a variety of medically-supervised weight loss techniques. This includes nutritional changes, behavioral modification, exercise, and medical management. Effective weight loss promotes disease reversal and encourages ongoing maintenance of wellness.

How is an Obesity Doctor Different From a Bariatric Surgeon? 

An obesity medicine physician is trained to non-surgically address obesity and obesity-related health issues. A licensed bariatric surgeon manipulates the body surgically for weight loss, through common procedures such as gastric bypass or gastric banding. 

Obesity doctors can support bariatric surgery procedures to address weight loss before and after surgery. They can also work with patients who have undergone bariatric surgery and have regained weight. 

Hopefully, you now understand the unique specialty of weight loss doctors compared to other medical providers. If you’re seeking a path to sustainable weight loss and improved health overall, partnering with a board-certified obesity medicine physician is the way to go! 

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