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AMA approves policy to offer training for obesity prevention, management

During its annual meeting, the AMA adopted a new policy to ensure that medical students and physicians are appropriately trained to prevent, diagnose and manage obesity, according to a press release.

The health care education community has developed several resources to guide clinicians in preventing and treating obesity, according to AMA. The policy aims to raise awareness of these resources.

The AMA noted that 53% of health professionals reported needing more training in obesity management and 50% need better tools to help patients understand obesity risks. Furthermore, recent studies revealed that a majority of medical schools do not offer nutrition education, resulting in “ill-prepared” physicians regarding being able to effectively address obesity and recognize and treat the condition’s nutritional and underlying causes, according to AMA.

“Obesity continues to impact the health of a great number of people across the country, contributing to an increase in associated conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes,” Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, AMA Board Member, said in a press release. “We know that the health consequences and financial burden of obesity are devastating, yet many of our medical students and physicians are unaware of how to address obesity in their patients. We must ensure that all physicians and physicians-in-training have the tools and information they need to better understand obesity so they can provide their patients with the best care possible.” – by Alaina Tedesco

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