The Obesity 201 course offers students the opportunity to build on the expertise needed to address unique circumstances involved in the care of patients with obesity. Students will develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to assess patients with obesity and develop treatment recommendations. This self-directed, online educational program and dedicated reading assignments is divided into four modules. Each module will address one or more key components of obesity medicine and provide the foundational tools necessary to address problem solving, patient assessment, and the coordination of health care for individuals with obesity.

With continually rising obesity rates, obesity will likely be the most common condition seen in clinical practice regardless of medical specialty. Obesity medicine encompasses a comprehensive approach to the evaluation and treatment of patients with obesity. Students will be able to identify and evaluate both the causes and health consequences of obesity. The medical treatment of obesity centers on the four pillars of obesity care: nutrition therapy, physical activity, behavioral modification, and medical interventions. The types and role of bariatric procedures is also addressed. The student will become familiar with each of these modalities and learn how to incorporate each component into patient evaluation and treatment. Patient care begins with a compassionate and empathetic approach, which is patient focused. Engagement tools such as the 5 A’s and motivational interviewing are essential components of effective patient communication. Beyond basic knowledge, effective integration of obesity medicine must include a broader scope of patient care including prevention and screening, coordination of health care, continuity of service, and family and community dynamics. Obesity medicine providers strive to treat their patients as part of the medical team; they endeavor to know their patient as a whole, and they make every effort to teach their patients how to achieve optimal health. Students are expected to complete the required readings, view the associated lecture modules, and successfully complete questions at the end of each module.