Table 1.

Ten things to know about Obesity Medicine Certification.

Ten things to know about Obesity Medicine Certification	References
1.The most common physician obesity medicine certification in the United States occurs via the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM)	https://www.abom.org/
2.Since 2013, the number of ABOM Certification of Obesity Medicine Diplomates has dramatically increased to well over 6000 Obesity Medicine Diplomates.	https://www.abom.org/stats-data-2/
3.Becoming an ABOM Diplomate can occur via two pathways: (1) Continuing Medical Education (CME) pathway plus exam, or (2) Fellowship plus exam pathway	https://www.abom.org/
4.Currently, the Obesity Medicine Fellowship Council (OMFC) identifies over 20 Obesity Medicine Fellowship Programs and at least 2 Specialized Obesity Programs.	https://omfellowship.org/directory-of-programs/
5.Obesity Medicine is not currently recognized as a subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)	https://www.abms.org/)
6.As with other specialties, certification in obesity medicine (i.e., either the current ABOM Diplomate or potential future ABMS recognition as a subspecialty) has the potential to enhance physician professional development and improve patient care	[[3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]]
7.Certification in obesity medicine (i.e., either the current ABOM Diplomate or potential future ABMS recognition as a subspecialty) may not increase per-patient reimbursement	[11]
8.If Obesity Medicine were to become a recognized subspecialty by an ABMS Member, then ABOM Diplomates would need to meet ABMS Member eligibility requirements, may need to complete an ABMS Member approved Fellowship, and take an ABMS Member exam, which may affect the types of physicians who would qualify, and potentially (at least transiently) affect the number of physicians having some designation that reflects expertise in obesity medicine.	https://www.abms.org/
9.If a single ABMS Board Member was designated to certify Obesity Medicine as a subspecialty, then potentially, only physicians Board-Certified in the specialty of that single Board would qualify to undergo an Obesity Medicine Fellowship and subsequent testing to become an ABMS recognized Obesity Medicine subspecialist. However, Obesity Medicine as a subspecialty could be co-sponsored by more than one ABMS Boards, such as the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), and/or American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), thus increasing the diversity and number of physicians eligible to become Obesity Medicine subspecialists.	https://www.abms.org/
10.Regarding the need for a Fellowship, some precedence exists where current ABOM certified Obesity Medicine Diplomates may have an option to transition to an ABMS-recognized Obesity Medicine subspecialists via taking an ABMS Member Board exam, but may not be required to complete an ABMS Member approved Obesity Medicine Fellowship (i.e., establishment of “grandfathering criteria”). However, the ABMS and/or its Member Board/s have not approved such an option.	https://www.abms.org/
	https://www.aaem.org/UserFiles/file/president_0508.pdf#:∼:text=Similar%20to%20other%20medical%20specialties%20in%20their%20early,by%20residency%20training%20or%20the%20initial%20practice%20track
	https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.2509005#:∼:text=This%20clinical%20practice%20experience%20pathway%20consists%20of%20a,in%20sleep%20medicine%20during%20the%20prior%205%20years.