Institute of Human Nutrition Obesity Course

Lifestyle behaviors including diet, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse, and tobacco use have been linked to increased risk of leading causes of death and chronic diseases. The challenge of reversing the obesity epidemic in the US and beyond 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, with the exception of 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.

In recognition of this need, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has made recommendations to include counseling on lifestyle behaviors in clinical practice settings as a means to implement the Affordable Care Act. In addition, The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) along with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) has established a credentialing protocol which includes an exam for practitioners to become specialty trained in obesity management. The Institute of Human Nutrition of Columbia University is an ABOM Partner Organization and will now offer their long-standing obesity course to prepare physicians for the ABOM exam, and provide CME credits to help practitioners meet the requirements to become a Diplomate of the ABOM.
At the conclusion of this program, participants will be better able to:

Discuss the role of nutrition in health and human disease as it relates to obesity management.
Use nutrition counseling skills to help patients improve their diet.
Use behavior counseling skills to help patients engage in healthy behaviors.
Apply exercise counseling strategies which can be conveyed to patients.