Obesity Management Learning Hub

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that physicians offer intensive counseling to adults with obesity to promote weight loss. Yet, many physicians do not feel they have adequate training to provide it. ACP has developed a multifaceted approach to increase confidence in providing counseling and treatment to patients with overweight and obesity by developing a curriculum that addresses multiple aspects of patient engagement and care to assure a team-based approach to managing obesity.


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The ACP Obesity Management Learning Series

This comprehensive, up-to-date learning series provides practical guidance to support physicians and their teams in treating patients with obesity. Three web-based, interactive learning activities address lifestyle modification, pharmacologic therapy, and surgical intervention. Patient education resources are included to bolster physician recommendations and support patient success.

Although the modules progress in a linear fashion, each is designed to stand alone and can be viewed independently. Upon finishing the modules, you can easily access the resource materials and links here.

Modules and CME/MOC credit are free to ACP Members. Nonmembers may purchase access to claim CME/MOC credit for each module for $25.

Module 1: Lifestyle Modification

1 CME

This module supports internists in assisting patients with obesity to establish lifestyle modification goals, monitor diet, engage in physical activity, and achieve desired weight loss.

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Module 2: Pharmacotherapy

1 CME

This module teaches learners how to safely pursue pharmacotherapy for obesity by supporting evidence-based prescription of medications for people with obesity, avoiding medication-induced weight gain and initiating medication-facilitated weight loss as part of a complete treatment plan.

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Module 3: Bariatric Surgery

1 CME

This module supports physicians in their team-based care of patients with obesity who are considering bariatric surgery or who have completed bariatric surgery. It provides a guide for internists seeking to optimize medical care for patients undergoing the most common bariatric procedures: sleeve gastrectomy and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The module guides physicians through evaluating surgery as an appropriate therapy option, as well as discussing both short-term and long-term management considerations.

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ACP Obesity Patient Education Materials

These ACP-produced patient education handouts were made for physicians and their teams to share with their patients in order to bolster physician recommendations and support patient success.

Lifestyle and Nutrition Handout

English | Spanish

This handout includes information for your patients on what it means to have obesity and how it can negatively affect their health, lifestyle and nutrition modifications they can make, and additional treatment options they may need to pursue.

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Lifestyle and Nutrition Checklist

English | Spanish

This “You Can Do It!” checklist enables patients to select from a menu of self-management techniques and healthy habits as they commit to pursue weight loss actions and a healthier lifestyle. There is also free space for patients to write in their own ideas. Encourage your patients to commit to a few habits in each area, and review this checklist with them at follow-up visits to see how they are progressing.

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Weight Loss Surgery

English | Spanish

This handout includes information on weight loss surgery for your patients. It covers the 3 most common surgical procedures for weight loss, general prerequisites for surgery, risks and benefits of surgery, and considerations for after surgery.

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Medication and Weight Loss

English | Spanish

This handout includes information on medications and weight for patients. It addresses how some medications for other medical conditions can cause weight gain, information on how weight loss medication works, who might benefit from taking it, and what to expect when starting a new prescription for weight loss medication.

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Who’s Who on the Obesity Care Team

English | Spanish

This handout explains the role of each health care team member a patient may encounter as they navigate treatment for overweight or obesity

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The DEI Shift Podcast: Obesity Mini-Series

This 2-part mini-series on obesity is produced for ACP by The DEI Shift podcast. The series explores topics related to obesity, diversity, equity, and inclusion. These podcasts are supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk Inc. 

CME/MOC credit are free to ACP Members. Nonmembers may purchase access to claim CME/MOC credit for each podcast for $25.

Episode 1: “Defining Obesity, Challenging Weight Bias” .5 CME

This episode, featuring Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, digs deep into historical, structural, and individual bias in care of patients with obesity.

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Episode 2: “Weight and Cultural Considerations” .5 CME

This episode explores how physicians can incorporate culture and social determinants as they partner with patients with obesity. Featuring commentary from Dr. Shreela Sharma and patient representative Ms. Latoshia Rouse.

Listen to Podcast


Advancing Equitable Obesity Care

ACP has begun to address obesity and its many related challenges systemically and through a health equity lens, through education and advocacy, and by addressing systemic factors that influence chronic health conditions, particularly those that disproportionately impact underserved populations.

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Annals of Internal Medicine's Overweight and Obesity Special Collection

Annnals of Internal Medicine features a comprehensive collection of articles providing valuable insights into the management, treatment, and health outcomes of obesity and overweight. To access most articles, you will need to have a subscription to the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Advisory Committee

This project has been supported and guided by the interdisciplinary ACP Obesity Advisory Committee. Learn more

ACP Obesity Management Advisory Committe

Thank you to the Advisory Committee for their feedback and contributions. This interprofessional committee includes obesity specialists, internists, weight loss surgeons, patients, clinical pharmacists, dietitians, and psychologists.

Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FACP - Chair
Louis J. Aronne, MD, FACP
Abeer Bader, MSc, RD, LDN, CSOWM
Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie, MD
Noreen Reilly Harrington, PhD
Hope Jackson, MD
Daniel B. Jones, MD, MS, FACS
Michael G. Knight, MD, MSHP, FACP
Dhiren K. Patel, PharmD, CDE, BC-ADM, BCACP
Latoshia Rouse


Accreditation

The American College of Physicians is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Learn more

Accreditation

The American College of Physicians is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Physicians designates each enduring material for the number AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ listed below. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of each CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to the indicated number of medical knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

  • Lifestyle Modification: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • Pharmacotherapy: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • Bariatric Surgery: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • DEI Podcast-Defining Obesity, Challenging Weight Bias: 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • DEI Podcast-Weight and Cultural Considerations: 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

The obesity management learning hub and its contents are supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk Inc.