Mayssoun Elchoufi, MD recently passed the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) certification exam for physicians and became certified in the subspecialty of obesity medicine. Dr. Elchoufi was among only 158 physicians nationally who successfully completed last year’s exam.

Physicians certified in obesity medicine are able to positively impact all systems of the body by incorporating weight management into traditional models of medical practice. Specifically, this subspecialty requires a thorough understanding of the treatment of obesity and the genetic, biologic, environmental, social and behavioral factors that contribute to obesity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults and 17 percent of U.S. children and adolescents are affected by obesity. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. In 2008, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion.

Supervision by a health care provider is necessary to optimally detect and treat weight-related medical conditions. A program supervised by a physician who is certified in obesity medicine offers a comprehensive and effective approach to maximizing overall health and reversing obesity- related co-morbidities.

“In our own state, the prevalence of adult obesity is greater than 30 percent. An additional 35 percent of adults in Georgia are overweight”, said Dr. Elchoufi. “I am interested in being part of the solution to this medical epidemic by locally helping patients affected by excess weight, who seek access to safe and effective evidence-based medical treatment options.”

Patients and their health care providers need a variety of options for obesity treatments, since no single treatment approach will work for every individual. The American Society of Bariatric Physicians provides guidance to its members and outlines several medical weight-loss methods, including dietary modification, exercise prescription, behavior modification and, when appropriate, medications. Physicians may also discuss surgical options with patients for whom this might be indicated