We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does an Obesity Doctor do?

By Susan Grindstaff
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,352
Share

An obesity doctor is a doctor who has gained certification in the management and treatment of obesity and some health issues that are related to obesity. In some parts of the world, this type of medical certification is fairly new; for instance, in the United States, this certification began in 2010. This special licensing is called Obesity Medicine Physician Certification. In past years, obesity was typically treated by general practitioners or nutritionists. In addition to trying to determine the cause of obesity in their patients, an obesity doctor will generally determine how much weight their patient needs to shed, how best to lose the weight, and any possible health risks associated with the obesity.

Typically, an obesity doctor is a medical doctor who has undergone special training in areas related to obesity. The special training would normally include areas of nutrition, psychology, exercise and obesity-related medications. A doctor with this type of certification generally has the same approach as other medical doctors do, however, because of their extensive training in the field, they are expected to achieve better results.

After evaluating the body mass index of an individual patient, an obesity specialist typically recommends a treatment program. The program could involve dieting and exercise, and might include follow-up visits, either weekly or monthly, depending on the needs of the patient. Though much research has shown that diets focused on low carbohydrates and high protein content yield faster results, doctors are usually reluctant to abandon the idea of a balanced diet. An obesity doctor will typically choose a diet that focuses on lowering overall calorie intake, rather than restricting certain food groups. Studies show that that low calorie diets also can lead to weight loss, but the weight loss is often much slower.

In addition to diet and exercise, an obesity doctor may recommend psychological counseling. This type of therapy could be particularly useful if the patient showed signs of suffering from an eating disorder or other emotional disturbances that sometimes lead to overeating. A board certified obesity doctor is typically trained to offer some counseling, but in some instances, particularly if emotional disturbance is believed to be severe, he or she might choose to refer the patient to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Sometimes obesity can be life-threatening, and in these instances, an obesity doctor might recommend bariatric surgery, the most common of which is gastric bypass surgery. This is considered an extreme measure, but is often successful in achieving weight loss. This type of surgery usually involves stapling the stomach, which makes it smaller and unable to hold as much food. Though an obesity doctor may recommend this type of surgery, a trained surgeon normally performs the actual operation.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-does-an-obesity-doctor-do.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.