Successful Weight Loss

New York City Is Home To Many Qualified Bariatric Doctors

By Carl Green


Medicine diversity of the medicine profession makes it reasonable to split it into subspecialties that handle specific areas of the field. The study of prevention, treatment, diagnosis, and causes of obesity is done under a subspecialty of medicine referred to as bariatrics. Bariatricians or bariatric physicians refer to medical specialists who specialize in bariatrics. The terms bariatricians and bariatric physicians are often employed interchangeably. Some of the most qualified bariatric doctors today are found in the city of New York.

The term bariatrics came into existence in the year 1965. The origin is the Greek language. It means, pertaining to weight treatment, when the word is translated into English. Approaches such as dieting, behavioral therapy, and exercise which aim to cause weight loss are included. The medicine profession has other meanings for the term.

In the world over, especially in developed countries, overweight and obesity are rising medical concerns. In America, the CDC approximates that more than a third of the adult population is obese. If the current trend in obesity continues, it has been approximated that a minimum of 44 percent of all people in every American state will be obese by 2030. That makes the need for bariatricians greater than ever. These professionals treat people with a body mass index BMI of over 30.

People with an BMI value of more than 30 have been found to be more susceptible to certain medical conditions. Such health conditions include chronic musculoskeletal problems, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, heart disease, various forms of cancer, and diabetes mellitus. Because obese people are incapable of solving their own weight problem, they need the intervention of a bariatrician.

Obesity can be treated by many different methods. Anti-obesity drugs, diet, behavior therapy, and exercise are part of the first-line treatment. First-line treatments have proven less effective in producing successful results in the short and long term. That has made weight loss surgery the only major alternative for treating weight problems. The efficiency of surgery is much higher compare to that of first-line treatment in the short-term and long-term.

Becoming a bariatrician is a complicated process with several academic hurdles. One must first of all get an MD degree from a recognized medical school. The last two years of training in medical school involves clinical rotations in which one is supervised by a medical doctor. Completion of a residency program is mandatory too. Residencies in this field last between three to seven years.

Licensure is mandatory for one to practice. Licensure follows residency and medical school in that order. To practice in America, practitioners must take and excel in the licensing exam. Board certification in obesity medicine comes after licensure. The board exam must be taken and passed. The certification board assists candidates with preparation by administering a certification review course and a workshop.

Opportunities are available for one to further their qualification. Accreditation is also provided by various professional organizations to members. This field is relatively young and very dynamic. As such, practitioners need to stay abreast with new changes and inventions.




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