320.996 Overweight and Obesity Control as a Major Public Health Program:
That MSSNY:
- urge physicians as well as managed care organizations and other third-party payors to recognize obesity as a complex disorder involving appetite regulation and energy metabolism that is associated with a variety of co-morbid conditions;
- work with appropriate state and federal agencies, medical specialty societies, and public health organizations to educate physicians about the prevention and management of overweight and obesity in children and adults, including education in basic principles and practices of physical activity and nutrition counseling; such training should be included in undergraduate and graduate medical education and through accredited continuing medical education programs;
- urge state and federal support of research to determine: (a) the causes and mechanisms of overweight and obesity, including biological, social, and epidemiological influences on weight gain, weight loss, and weight maintenance; (b) the long-term safety and efficacy of voluntary weight maintenance and weight loss practices and therapies, including surgery; (c) effective interventions to prevent obesity in children and adults; and (d) the effectiveness of weight loss counseling by physicians;
- encourage state and national efforts to educate the public about the health risks of being overweight, and obese and provide information about how to achieve and maintain a preferred healthy weight;
- urge physicians to assess their patients for overweight and obesity during routine medical examinations and discuss with at-risk patients the health consequences of further weight gain; if treatment is indicated, physicians should encourage and facilitate weight maintenance or reduction efforts in their patients or refer them to a physician with special interest and expertise in the clinical management of obesity;
- urge all physicians and patients to maintain a desired weight and prevent inappropriate weight gain;
- encourage physicians to become knowledgeable of community resources and referral services that can assist with the management of overweight and obese patients; and
- urge the appropriate state and federal agencies to work with organized medicine and the health insurance industry to develop coding and payment mechanisms for the evaluation and management of obesity. (HOD 2003-152; Reaffirmed HOD 2013; reaffirmed HOD 2023)
