Target Audience

This course is designed for all health professionals engaged in the assessment, prevention, and management of obesity, including physicians, nurse practitioners,  nutritionists, physician assistants, physical therapists, dentists, and allied healthcare providers. 

For physicians interested in obtaining obesity medicine certification through the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), this course is designated as ABOM GROUP 1 credits.

This course is available as part of a two-course package that provides learners with over 60 credits, fulfilling the credit requirement to apply for the ABOM exam. 

Course Overview

The “Obesity: Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment” course provides a comprehensive, evidence-based education in the pathophysiology, prevention, and clinical management of obesity across the lifespan—from children and adolescents to adults. 

Participants will explore genetic, hormonal, and epidemiologic drivers of obesity; behavioral and environmental influences; advanced treatment strategies, including pharmacological, endoscopic, and surgical interventions; and practical tools for real-world case management. 

With an emphasis on person-first, bias-free language and an integrated, multidisciplinary approach, the course equips clinicians with actionable skills to improve outcomes in patients with obesity and related comorbidities. 

Agenda

View the course agenda here.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, learners should be able to:

1. Describe current epidemiologic trends in obesity and associated health risks.
2. Analyze how weight bias and stigma affect prevention, treatment, and patient engagement.
3. Explain the physiology and pathophysiology of obesity, including genetic, hormonal, and environmental contributors.
4. Apply evidence-based nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral strategies to support weight management and metabolic health across the lifespan.
5. Apply evidence-based pharmacologic treatments for obesity and manage common side effects.
6. Evaluate indications, outcomes, and complications of bariatric and endobariatric procedures.
7. Manage common weight-related medical conditions.
8. Develop individualized, multidisciplinary, long-term treatment plans that integrate medical, nutritional, and behavioral interventions.

Course Format & Access

Video-recorded lectures are available on the course platform and cannot be downloaded. An internet connection is required for viewing. Lecture slides are provided as downloadable PDFs.

Participants must complete the course by the expiration date to retain access. Those who do will retain access to course materials for 3 years after the course expires.

Accreditation Statement

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

Credit Designation Statement

The Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons designates this enduring material for a maximum of 31.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 31.25 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 31.25 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Course Pricing

Physicians: $1,000

• Discounted rates are available for non-physician healthcare professionals, fellows, residents, students, Columbia/Cornell/NYP personnel, military personnel, academic affiliates, groups of 5 or more, and past Columbia/Cornell course participants. Please contact the Institute of Human Nutrition at ihnce@cumc.columbia.edu for discount codes. 

Course Package Options

Two-Course 60+ Credit Package
2026 Obesity: Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment + Obesity: Additional Topics for Advanced Study

• Earn up to 63.5 CME credits
• Physician Price: $1,495
• Register for the two-course package.

After purchase, the first course will open automatically. You may exit and return at any time. To access all courses, log in and navigate to the My Account tab.

Faculty and Disclosures

All those involved with the planning and delivery of this education will disclose all financial relationships in the past 24 months with ineligible companies. An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. For each financial relationship, disclosure will include the name of the ineligible company and the nature of the financial relationship(s).

Louis Aronne, MD, FACP, FTOS, DABOM
Consultant, Advisory Board & Research Funding
 Altimmune, Inc. & Novo Nordisk A/S
Consultant & Advisory Board
 Amgen Inc.,  Boehringer Ingelheim, International GmbH, Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC,  Pfizer Inc. & Zealand Pharma A/S
Advisory Board
 AstraZeneca PLC & Senda Biosciences, Inc.
Consultant, Advisory Board & Research Funding
 Eli Lilly and Company
Board of Directors & Equity Interests
 ERX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Equity Interests
  Kallyope, Inc. & MBX Biosciences, Inc.
Research Funding, Equity Interests
 Skye Bioscience, Inc.
Consultant, Advisory Board, Equity Interests
 Veru Inc.

John Batsis, MD, FACP, AGSF, FGSA, FTOS, DABOM
Consultant
 Regeneron & Abbott Nutrition (Abbott Laboratories)

Ariana Chao, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC, RN​
Consultant & Grant Support
 Eli Lilly and Company & F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Consultant
 Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH* & Novo Nordisk A/S*

Morgan Dickison, MS, RDN, CSOWM, CDN
Consultant
 Pfizer Inc.
Speaker
 Glanbia Performance Nutrition, Inc.*

Claudia Fox, MD, MPH, FAAP, DABOM
Contracted Research
 Novo Nordisk A/S & Eli Lilly and Company

Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, MD, PhD, DABOM
Research Support
 Eli Lilly and Company, Endogenex, Inc., & Phenomix Sciences, Inc.*
Advisory Board
 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd*
Advisory Board Member, Manuscript Funding & Speaker
 Novo Nordisk A/S*
Consultant
 Verge Genomics, Inc.*

Sonal Kumar, MD, MPH, DABOM
Consultant, Advisor, Speaker & Research
 Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. & Novo Nordisk A/S
Consultant, Advisor & Speaker
 Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH

Jeffrey Mechanick, MD, FACP, MACE, FACN, ECNU
Advisory Board & Honoraria
 Abbott Nutrition (Abbott Laboratories)

Babak Orandi, MD, PhD, MSc, FACS, DABOM
Advisory Board
 Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH*

Michael Rosenbaum, MD
Clinical Trial Investigator
 Eli Lilly and Company*

Reem Sharaiha, MD, MSc
Consultant
 Boston Scientific Corporation, Cook Medical LLC, Olympus Corporation* & Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Alpana Shukla, MD, MRCP(UK), FTOS
Advisor, Research Funding
 Eli Lilly and Company
Consultant, Research Funding
 Novo Nordisk A/S
Research Funding
 Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Beverly Tchang, MD, FTOS, DABOM
Advisor
 Amgen Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer Inc. & Skye Bioscience, Inc.
Consultant
 Kailera Therapeutics, Inc.

Devika Umashanker, MD, DABOM
Speaker
 Eli Lilly and Company* & Novo Nordisk A/S*
Consultant
 Novo Nordisk A/S

Giles Yeo, PhD
Consultant
 Eli Lilly and Company & Novo Nordisk A/S
Grant Funding
 Amgen Inc. & Novo Nordisk A/S
Speaker
 Amgen Inc, Eli Lilly and Company & Novo Nordisk A/S

All of the relevant financial relationships listed have been mitigated.
No others in control of content had any relevant relationships.
(*) indicates that the relationship has ended.

Disclaimer

All information in this activity is intended for educational purposes only. Physicians and other health care professionals are encouraged to consult other sources and confirm the information contained in this site. No single reference or service can take the place of medical training, education, and experience. This website does not define a standard of care, nor is it intended to dictate an exclusive course of management. This information should not substitute for a visit or consultation with a healthcare provider.

Technical Requirements

This activity is best experienced using the most current browser (or one back) of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, or Microsoft Edge. For all audio activities, you must have a sound card and speakers. You must have JavaScript and session cookies enabled on your computer to view graphic images and references that appear in separate "pop-up" windows. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required for certain activities. Access to Vimeo streaming is required for this activity. 

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