Scant obesity training in medical school leaves doctors ill-prepared to help patients

Published in NPR, “Scant Obesity Training in Medical School Leaves Doctors Ill-Prepared to Help Patients” highlights the lack of obesity education in medical schools, leaving doctors unprepared to help patients with obesity. According to the article, only about 25% of U.S. medical schools require a course on nutrition and only about half require a course on obesity. The article argues that this lack of training leads to missed opportunities for doctors to help patients manage their weight and can result in patients not receiving the care they need. It also notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified the need for medical professionals to be equipped to address obesity, as people with obesity are at higher risk for severe illness from the virus.