2021 Obesity Course: Etiology, Prevention and Treatment

2021 Obesity: Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment


Release Date: April 15, 2021
Course Closes for Credit Claiming: April 14, 2023
Format: Video-recorded lectures split into sixteen topic-based modules
Materials: Video lecture slides are downloadable as pdf files. Videos are not downloadable and must be reviewed online. 

Target Audience

This Obesity course provides an excellent overview for all health professionals; physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and more. For physicians interested in obtaining obesity medicine certification through the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), this course satisfies the ABOM requirement of at least 30 hours of live CME credit on the topic of obesity.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity learners should be able to: 

  1. Understand the influence of weight bias on the care of people with obesity.
  2. Understand the complexity of the development and treatment of obesity.
  3. Apply best practice approaches to the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity.
  4. Identify, classify and determine appropriate treatment approaches for people with obesity, including lifestyle, advanced pharmacological approaches, and bariatric surgery.
  5. Create treatment plans for people with obesity that include motivational interviewing, behavior modification, and nutrition and physical activity plans.
  6. Integrate stress management and sleep hygiene into the evaluation and treatment of people with obesity.

Course Overview

Lifestyle behaviors – including diet, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse, and tobacco use – have been linked to an increased risk of the leading causes of death and chronic diseases in the US and around the world. The challenge of reversing the obesity epidemic has highlighted the need for new ways to teach complex skill sets which effectively target lifestyle behaviors, particularly diet and physical activity. However, most health professionals (apart from registered dieticians) have little or no training in the science of nutrition, diet, and physical activity. Moreover, health professionals lack training in facilitating behavior change. Many, in fact, do not engage in nutrition counseling at all. 

The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) has established a credentialing protocol, which includes an exam for physicians to become certified in the field of obesity medicine. The Institute of Human Nutrition (IHN) at Columbia University is an ABOM Partner Organization; the IHN now offers its long-standing obesity course to prepare physicians for the ABOM exam and to provide CME credits to help physicians meet the requirements to become a Diplomate of the ABOM. 

Topic Highlights 

  • The Epidemiology and Health Risks of Obesity, Louis Aronne, MD1 
  • Genetics of Obesity: Nature Meets Nurture, Rudy Leibel, MD 
  • Epigenetics and the Development of Obesity, Lori Zeltser, PhD 
  • Adipose Tissue: White, Brown, and Beige and Why Shades Matter, Marc Reitman, MD, PhD 
  • Carbs, Calories, or Quality: What Matters Most for Bodyweight, Kevin Hall, PhD 
  • Body Weight Regulation: Why is it so hard to Keep Weight Off, Michael Rosenbaum, MD 
  • Obesity and Type II Diabetes: New Thoughts on Pathophysiology and Treatment, Caroline Apovian, MD1
  • Is Hyperinsulinemia the cause of Obesity, Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance?, Barbara Corkey, PhD 
  • Rethinking Food Reward, Dana Small, PhD 
  • From Brain to Bedside: How Neuroscience Informs Clinical Care for Patients with Obesity, Ellen Schur, MD, MS
  • Physical Activity and Weight Loss and Maintenance of Weight Loss, John Jakicic, PhD 
  • Losing and Regaining Weight: Do the Benefits of the Losses Outweigh the Consequences of Regain? Steven Heymsfield, MD 
  • Microbiome and Energy Balance, Eamonn Quigley, MD 
  • Nutrient Metabolism and Obesity: Special Considerations after Bariatric Surgery, Jeffrey Mechanick, MD 
  • Chronic Stress and Obesity, Rajita Sinha, PhD 
  • Obesity and Pregnancy, Patrick M Catalano, MD 
  • Challenges in Women and People of Color with Obesity and Obesity-related Diseases, Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA1 

1(Diplomate ABOM)

View a complete list of course lectures

Course Navigation

  • This course is split into 16 topic-based sections. Participants may interact with the material of their choosing and claim CME according to the amount of material reviewed. 
  • The system does not track participant progress through the course material.
  • Participants are responsible for keeping track of how much material they have reviewed. Each section header lists the time required to complete that section.
  • There is one 20 question CME quiz to be completed once the participant has finished completing the course material. There are no section-based quizzes. 

Technical Requirements

This activity is best experienced using the most current browser (or one back) of Firefox or Safari. At this time, the Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers are blocking full-screen video viewing. 

For all activities featuring audio, you must have a sound card and speakers. To view graphic images and references that appear in separate "pop-up" windows, you must have JavaScript and session cookies enabled on your computer. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required for certain activities.

Accreditation Statement

The Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education 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 67.5 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 67.5 medical knowledge 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 activity, with individual assessments of the participant and feedback to the participant, enables the participant to earn 67.5 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.

Faculty 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).

Jaclyn Maurer Abbot PhD, RDN
      None

Sharon R Akabas PhD
      None

Caroline Apovian, MD, FACP, FACN, ABOM Diplomate
      Consultant
          Tivity Health, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Roman Pharma Inc., Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Curavit Clinical Research, Gelesis, Inc., Zafgen, Inc. & Nutrisystem, Inc.

Louis J Aronne MD, FACP, ABOM Diplomate
      Consultant, Advisory Board & Research Funding
          Eisai Co., Ltd., Novo Nordisk Inc. & Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
      Consultant & Advisory Board
Pfizer Inc., Eisai Co., Ltd., Real Appeal, Inc. &  Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
      Equity Interests & Board of Director’s Member
          IntelliHealth LLC & MYOS RENS Technology Inc.
      Equity Interests
          ERX Pharmaceuticals & Zafgen, Inc.
      Research Funding
          Aspire Bariatrics, Inc. & AstraZeneca PLC,
      Consultant, Advisory Board, Research Funding & Equity Interests
            Gelesis, Inc.
      Consultant, Advisory Board, Equity Interests & Board of Director’s Member
          Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. & Wellness Pharmacy
      Research Funding & Equity Interests
          Allurion Technologies Inc.

Ruben D Baler PhD
      None

Kerri Boutelle
      None

 Bonnie Bernstein PhD
      None

Carolyn Bramante MD, MPH
      None

Joel V Brill MD
      Consulting Fees
          Accomplish Health, Ambu A/S, AnX Robotica Corp., CapsoVision, Inc., Cernostics, Check-Cap Ltd., Digma Medical, Diversatek, Inc., Dune Medical Devices, Echosens, EndoGastric Solutions, Inc., FoodMarble Digestive Health Ltd., Gala Therapeutics Inc., Glaukos Corporation, Gynesonics, Inc., Hello Heart Inc., HyGIeaCare Inc., Innovative Health Solutions Inc., Insightec, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Lumendi, Ltd., Mainstay Medical Limited, Mauna Kea Technologies, Medtronic, ModifyHealth, LLC, Motus GI Holdings, Inc., Neuspera Medical Inc., Nuviera, OptumRx, Inc., Pacira BioSciences, Inc., Perspectum Diagnostics Ltd, Proteus Digital Health, Inc., RefleXion Medical, Inc., Respira Therapeutics, Inc., Respiratory Technology Corporation, Senseonics, SonarMD, StageZero Life Sciences, LLC, STRATA Skin Sciences, SWORD Health Technologies, Inc., Tabula Rasa HealthCare, Tusker Medical, Inc., UCB Biopharma SRL, Vertos Medical, Inc., W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Wright Medical Group N.V. & FAIR Health, Inc.

Josie Burke
      None

W. Scott Butsch MD, MSc, FTOS, ABOM Diplomate
      Health Consultant, Clinical Advisory Board & Speaker
          Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
      Health Consultant
          Novo Nordisk Inc.

Chris Campagnola CSCS, ACE, LMT
      None

Susan Carnell PhD
      None

Patrick Catalano
      None

An Chen MD, DABOM
      None

Barbara Corkey PhD
      None

Yale Cycowicz
      None

Eugene Dinkevich MD, FAAP, ABOM Diplomate
      None

Cristina R Fernandez MD, MPH, FAAP
      None

Madelyn Fernstrom PhD, CNS
      None

Jennifer Orlet Fisher
      Consultant
          WW International, Inc. & Nestlé S.A.                          

Claudia Fox MD, MPH, FAAP, ABOM Diplomate
      Research Support
          Novo Nordisk Inc. & Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dympna Gallagher EdD
      None

Kevin D Hall PhD
      None

Sandra G. Hassink MD, MS, FAAP
      None

Kim Hekiminan PhD
      None

Steven Heymsfield MD
      Medical Advisory Board Member
          Tanita Corporation & Medifast, Inc.

Dayle Hodge MD, MS, PhD
      None

Katie C Hootman MS, PhD, RD, CDN
      Consultant
          Faeth Therapeutics, Inc.
      Professional education reviewer
          PepsiCo, Inc.

Deborah Horn DO, MPH, ABOM Diplomate
      Consultant
          Gelesis, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc. & Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
      Invited faculty to sponsored CME
          Medtronic
      Advisor & Speaker
          Novo Nordisk Inc.

Leon I Igel MD, FACP, FTOS, ABOM Diplomate
      None

John Jakicic PhD
      Scientific Advisory Board
          WW International, Inc. & Naturally Slim
      Advisory Board
          Spark360

Ania Jastreboff MD, PhD, ABOM Diplomate
      Consultant
          Novo Nordisk Inc., Eli Lilly and Company & Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
      Research
          American Diabetes Association, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk Inc., National Institutes of Health & National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Scott Kahan MD, ABOM Diplomate
      Consultant
          VIVUS Inc., Pfizer Inc. & Gelesis, Inc.

Aaron S Kelly PhD
      Unpaid Consultant
          Novo Nordisk Inc.,  VIVUS Inc. & WW International, Inc.
      Research Support
          AstraZeneca PLC

Abraham Krikhely MD, FACS
      Speaker & Proctor
          Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
      Consultant
          Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. & Surgical Specialties Corporation
      Surgical Video Reviewer
          CSATS Inc.    

Judith Korner, MD, PhD, ABOM Diplomate
      Consultant
          FoundHealth, Inc. & Digma Medical
      Scientific Advisory Board
                GI Dynamics, Inc.   

Rekha B Kumar MD, MS, ABOM Diplomate
      Speaker
          Novo Nordisk Inc. & Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
      Consultant
          Gelesis, Inc., Pfizer Inc. & Eli Lilly and Company
      Shareholder
          VIVUS Inc.

Rudolph L Leibel MD
      None

Ruth Loos PhD
      None

Stephen A McClave MD, FACN, FASGE, FASPEN, AGAF

      Speaker & Educational Consultant
          Abbott Laboratories & Nestlé S.A.
      Advisory Board
          Avanos Medical, Inc. & Baxter Healthcare Corporation

Jeffrey I Mechanick MD FACP, MACE, FACN, ECNU
      Honoraria
          Abbott Nutrition
      Advisory Board & Ownership Interest
          GoodSuga+

Ali Mencin MD
      None

Carlos Augusto Monteiro
      None

Diana Rodriguez Moreno
      None

Jamie Mullally MD, ABOM Diplomate
      None

Ramifis Nieto-Martinez MD
      Speaker
          Merck & Co., Inc.

Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn PhD
      None

Rebecca L Pearl PhD
      None

Christopher Petrilli MD, SFHM
      None

Eamonn Quigley MD, FRCP, FACP, MACG, FRCPI
      Consultant
          Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novozymes A/S, Vibrant Pharma Inc., Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Allergan plc & 4D Pharma plc
      Research Support
          Vibrant Pharma Inc., 4D Pharma plc, & Biomerica Inc.

John Rausch MD, MPH, ABOM Diplomate
      None

Eric Ravussin PhD
      Consultant
          Amway Corp., LNC Therapeutics SA, Kintai Therapeutics, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company &  Generian Pharmaceuticals
      Contracted Research
          Amway Corp. & Novartis AG

Tirissa Reid MD, ABOM Diplomate
      None

Marc L Reitman MD, PhD
      None

Angela Incollingo Rodriguez PhD
      None

Victoria W Rogers MD
      None

Michael Rosenbaum MD
      None

Leslie Rosenbruch MS, RD, LDN, CDE
      Employee
          Medtronic Diabetes

Prantik Saha MD, MPH
      None

Katherine H Saunders MD, ABOM Diplomate
      Ownership and management interest
          IntelliHealth LLC

Ellen Schur MD, MS
      None
Heather Seid MS, RDN
      None

Sarbattama Sen, MD
      None

Ari Shechter PhD
      None

Alpana Shukla MD, MRCP(UK)
      None

Rajita Sinha PhD
      PI of Research Contract
          CT Pharma, LLC

Dana Small PhD
      None

Bonnie Spring PhD
      Scientific Advisory Board
          ActiGraph, LLC
      Consultant
          Apple Inc.

Reshmi Srinath MD, DABOM
      None

 Marie-Pierre St-Onge PhD
      Consultant
          PepsiCo, Inc., Nestlé S.A. & WW International, Inc.

Fatima Cody Stanford MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FTOS
      Advisor
          GoodRx, Inc., Calibrate Health, Inc. & Novo Nordisk Inc.
      Research
          Amazon.com, Inc.

Beverly Tchang, MD, ABOM Diplomate
      Consulting Fees
          Novo Nordisk Inc.

Paul R Thomas EdD, RDN
      None

A. Janet Tomiyama PhD
      None

Richard Weil MEd, CDE
      None

Olivia Weinstein MS, RD, LDN
      Stakeholder
          The Pursuit By You, LP
      Consultant
          Penn State University
      Employee
          Boston Medical Center

Jennifer Woo Baidal MD, MPH
      None

Lori M Zeltser PhD
      Speaker
          Novo Nordisk Inc.

Jeffrey Zitsman MD
      None

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

MOC Disclaimer

Please note that by entering your ABIM/ABP number(s), you are allowing us to share your completion data with the ACCME and the certifying board(s).

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