U.S. Still Poorly Prepared to Treat Obesity

The authors pointed to several shortcomings in the training of health professionals when it comes to obesity and nutrition. But training is often difficult -- there are less than 1,200 certified obesity medicine physicians in the U.S., said Primack. "It will take another 20 years to just get enough providers of any type to adequately treat the overt 100 million Americans who are overweight or obese," Primack said. "In addition, insurance generally does not reimburse for the treatment of obesity." Medical professionals and medical students have biases surrounding obesity treatment, said the article. Many think that "patients with obesity are lazy, noncompliant with treatment, less responsive to counseling, responsible for their condition, have no willpower, and deserve to be targets of derogatory humor, even in the clinical-care environment," wrote the authors, citing a 2006 study of medical students and a 2013 one of U.K. healthcare workers. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/50120