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New York City Is Home To Many Qualified Bariatric Doctors

By Carl Green


Medicine is a wide discipline that has several subcategories, which are dedicated to the study of various medical conditions, disorders, and diseases that people suffer from. The branch of medicine that deals with the study of causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity in people is called bariatrics. The medical practitioners who specialize in this branch of medicine are called bariatric physicians or bariatricians. The two terms are used interchangeably. New York is one of the states that have many highly qualified bariatric doctors.

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.

Research has proved that susceptibility to certain health problems is higher in individual who have an BMI value placed above 30. Some of the health conditions they are susceptible to include asthma, heart disease, different forms of cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic musculoskeletal problems, and obstructive sleep apnea. In most cases overweight people cannot solve the problem, making the service of bariatricians very necessary.

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.

One cannot practice without being licensed. Licensure comes after medical school and residency program. There is a licensing exam that all practitioners who wish to practice in the US must take and pass. Being licensed then opens the door for board certification in obesity medicine. One must again take and pass a board exam. The board administers a workshop and a certification review course to help candidates with preparation.

One can further their qualifications if they want. Professional organizations also accredit their members. Bariatrics still a young field and a lot of research is ongoing. Therefore, professionals must keep up with changes in order to be more effective at treating patients.




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