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Sunday, January 31, 2016

Places To Find 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 coining of the term bariatrics happened around 1965. It has its origin from the Greek language. The translation from the Greek language gives the meaning, pertaining to the treatment of weight in the English language. Various approaches to weight loss including behavioral therapy, exercise, and dieting are encompassed in this field. The term also bears other meanings in the medicine profession.

Globally, especially in developed economies, there is a rising medical concern resulting from overweight and obesity. It has been approximated by the CDC in the US that the adult population is obese up to a third or more of the people. With the current trend, approximation show that 44 percent of the population in all states will be obese by 2030. Therefore, more batricians are needed. One is considered to be obese if their body mass index also abbreviated as BMI is above 30.

People whose BMI value of greater than 30 are at a higher risk of developing certain medical conditions. Such medical conditions include obstructive sleep apnea, chronic musculoskeletal problems, asthma, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and various kinds of cancer. Obese people need the help of bariatricians because they are mostly incapable of losing weight on their own.

Different methods can be used to treat obesity. First-line treatment options used include anti-obesity drugs, behavior therapy, diet, and exercise. These treatment options have provided unsatisfactory short-term and long-term results. With such failures surgery remains the only method with capability of producing short-term and enduring reduction in body weight. Surgery is much more efficient when compared to first-line techniques.

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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