Creating a New Medical Subspecialty Seen as a Remedy for Obesity Epidemic

ST. PAUL, Sept. 3 -- As part of a bipartisan push to quell the nation's obesity epidemic, those gathered here for the Republican National Convention heard speakers call for more targeted physician training in keeping patients at ideal weights.

In an Obesity Society forum held in conjunction with the convention, panelists suggested that establishing an internal medicine obesity subspecialty could be a big help. The Obesity Society held a similar discussion in Denver at the Democratic National Convention.

Most medical students are only required to have three hours of education about food and nutrition, said Tommy Thompson, a former HHS secretary in President Bush's administration.

There are not enough training programs to prepare physicians for talking to patients about obesity, the root of many health problems that they might encounter in their careers, said Caroline Apovian, M.D., director of the Center for Nutrition and Weight Management at Boston Medical Center. She is the secretary and treasurer of the Obesity Society.