A record number of doctors have applied to become certified to treat obesity this year, amid the rising popularity of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
Nearly 1,900 doctors registered for the annual exam in October, the medical board behind the test said, which was a 50 percent increase from the previous year.
Passing the exam distinguishes doctors as competent in treating obese patients and could put them on a path to securing higher salaries.
It comes after official data showed that 40 percent of adults are now obese in three states – West Virginia, Louisiana and Oklahoma – while every state had seen a rise in rates compared to just a decade ago.
Prescriptions for weight loss drugs have soared in the US, with five million written last year, up from 2,000 percent in 2019.
The chart above shows the number of physicians who registered for the exam per year
The map above shows the obesity rate by US state in the year 2022, the most recent data available. The data was revealed Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Analysts suggest this market will be worth $56 billion by 2030, with doctors who specialize in obesity medicine likely to charge patients more.
Data from the American Board of Obesity Medicine showed a record number of doctors signed up to take the exam this year.
In 2012 – when the accreditation system was set up – barely 200 doctors registered.
Healthcare workers do not need the obesity certificate to treat obese patients, but it can make them more competent in caring for the patients.
It can also serve as a stepping stone for doctors applying for further training as a bariatric surgeon – or for a doctor who specializes in performing weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass.
This would require another one to two years of training, on top of the first four years required to become a doctor, plus the three to seven year residency.
Bariatric doctors earn an average of about $450,000 a year, statistics show, compared to $412,000 for general surgeons. In some cases, they can be paid more than $700,000.
The ABOM says doctors are expected to get certified by them to become bariatric surgeons.
Modules given to doctors in the course explore the causes of the disease and how to help patients lose weight through diet changes and exercise.
They may also be taught about ‘pharmacotherapy’ to help patients reduce their waistlines, for example about popular weight-loss drugs.
Dr. Kimberly Gudzune, ABOM’s medical director, said Insider: ‘As there is more awareness about both obesity and chronic disease and about all the effective treatment options, patients are coming to their doctors and saying, ‘I want to be treated.’
“And I think that’s often the trigger for a lot of busy practitioners to say, ‘I really need to know how to do this.’
She added: ‘We are working to close that gap (in obesity knowledge among doctors).
‘But it takes time, and I think the growth appeals to us to work in that direction.’
It comes amid rising demand for weight loss drugs such as Ozempic (pictured) and Wegovy
The above data shows the situation of the previous year. A majority of US states saw their obesity rates increase compared to previous years
The U.S. obesity rate is up compared to a decade ago, when no state had an obesity rate above 35 percent. The CDC says it is an “urgent priority” to address the nation’s growing waistline
There are more than a million physicians in the U.S., of which nearly 7,000 (or 0.007 percent) are certified to treat obesity.
The specialization is not necessary to treat obese patients, but it does provide doctors with advanced knowledge.
In addition to their busy schedules, doctors must also attend at least 30 hours of lectures and another 30 hours of studying before they can sit for the exam.
There is currently a gold rush among pharmaceutical giants to tap the emerging market for weight-loss drugs.
Novo Nordisk – which is behind semaglutide used in Wegovy and Ozempic – raised a record $5.5 billion last year after investing in factories to produce the drug in the United States.
It is also behind a number of medications for diabetes patients and some medications for hemophiliacs.
Eli Lilly has also made money in the market with its obesity treatment tirzepatide, which is expected to generate $48 billion once approved.
Pfizer – which made billions from its Covid vaccine – is also developing its own class of weight-loss drugs to enter the market.