Geographic Availability of Physicians Certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine Relative to Obesity Prevalence

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study is to determine the distribution of adult and pediatric American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) diplomates relative to the prevalence of obesity by US state. Methods Data from the ABOM physician directory were used to determine original specialty and US state. Physicians were labeled as “adult medicine” physicians (i.e., internal medicine, family medicine, or internal medicine and pediatrics), “pediatric medicine” physicians (i.e., pediatrics, family medicine, or internal medicine and pediatrics), and “other physicians” (i.e., surgical specialty, other specialty, or unknown). Prevalence of obesity by state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was used for adults and adolescents in 2017 and for children in 2014. Counts of ABOM‐certified adult medicine physicians and pediatric medicine physicians were conducted relative to obesity prevalence by state. Results A total of 2,577 US‐based ABOM‐certified physicians were included (79% from adult medicine, 38% from pediatric medicine, and 15% from other fields). All US states had more than one ABOM‐certified adult medicine physician, although geographic disparities existed in physician availability relative to obesity prevalence. Fewer pediatric medicine ABOM diplomates were available in all states. Conclusions Promotion of ABOM training and certification in certain geographic locations and among pediatric physicians may help address disparities in ABOM diplomate availability relative to obesity burden.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and risk of hospitalization for Covid-19

“…Assessing an interaction with race was done because of significant differences in outcomes in Covid-19 by race and ethnicity. 14 NAFLD/NASH increased risk of hospitalization in all groups, but controlling for NAFLD/NASH did not eliminate differences in risk between racial/ethnic groups. Of note, persons who had self-identified as Black who had NAFLD/NASH compared to those who did not had the biggest increased odds of hospitalization.…”

“…While the protective benefits of metformin, GLP-1RA, and bariatric surgery are promising, more therapies for NAFLD/NASH are urgently needed. The mainstay of treatment for NAFLD/NASH is weight loss, and while advances in obesity medicine have made achieving sustainable weight loss more possible, 14 societal forces including the current Covid-19 pandemic, continue to create an obesogenic environment – over 42% of adults in the US now have obesity. 16 Research assessing risk from visceral adiposity, such as from imaging studies, is needed.…”

“…Patients with elevated BMI should be screened for NAFLD/NASH and informed of the risks associated with visceral adiposity and Covid-19, as well as opportunities for mitigating this risk such as bariatric surgery, GLP-1RA, and metformin. 9 , 14 …”

Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults in a Large Health System in the US

“…Hence, most current prescribers of AOMs remain endocrinologists who are more comfortable with managing these medications for other indications despite availability of certification by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). A recent study demonstrates that pediatricians are least likely to become certified by the ABOM to treat patients with obesity despite the consistent rise of obesity among the pediatric population (19,46). Still, off-label systemic medication prescribing for unapproved conditions in pediatrics has increased in recent years (47).…”

Physicians certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine provide evidence‐based care

“…16 A recent publication reported their demographics, medical specialty (eg, internal medicine, family medicine), years in practice and practice region. 15,16 Another study reported on the geographic distribution of ABOM Diplomates, 17 which found that all United States had an ABOM-certified adult medicine physician, although disparities existed in Diplomate availability relative to state-level obesity prevalence. This study also identified fewer paediatric medicine ABOM Diplomates were available.…”