New York Is The Place To Hire Qualified Bariatric Doctors

By Carl Green


Medicine as a discipline is very wide that it makes sense to subdivide it into smaller division so that each division specializes in a the study of specific medical disorders, diseases, or conditions. One of those branches is bariatrics, which specializes in studying causes, prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of obesity. Medical professionals whose specialty is in this subspecialty of medicine are known as bariatricians or bariatric physicians. These two terms are often applied interchangeably. New York City is one of the location with 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.

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 characterized by several academic requirements. Having an MD from a medical school that is recognized is the starting point. Medical school concludes with a two-year period of supervised clinical rotations. After that, one must complete a residency program. The duration of residency programs range between 3 and 7 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.

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.




About the Author: