Local Physician Earns Certification in Obesity Medicine

PUTNAM, CONN. – Lee Wesler, MD, recently passed the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) Certification Exam for Obesity Medicine Physicians and became certified in the subspecialty of obesity medicine.

Physicians certified in obesity medicine are able to positively impact all systems of the body by incorporating weight management into traditional models of medical practice. Specifically, this subspecialty requires competency in and a thorough understanding of the treatment of obesity and the genetic, biologic, environmental, social and behavioral factors that contribute to obesity.

Dr. Wesler was among only 191 physicians nationally who successfully completed this year’s exam.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults and 17 percent of U.S. children and adolescents are obese. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. In 2008, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion.

Supervision from a healthcare provider is necessary to detect and treat weight-related medical conditions. A healthcare program supervised by a physician who is certified in obesity medicine offers a comprehensive and effective approach to maximizing overall health and reversing obesity-related co-morbidities.

“In our own state, the prevalence of adult obesity 22.5 percent,” said Dr. Wesler. “I am interested in being part of the solution to this medical epidemic by locally helping patients affected by obesity who seek access to safe evidence-based medical treatment options.”

Patients and their healthcare providers need a variety of options for obesity treatments, since no single treatment approach will work for every individual. The American Society of Bariatric Physicians provides guidance to its members through a set of obesity medicine guidelines, which outline four medical weight-loss methods: dietary modification, exercise prescription, behavior modification and, when appropriate, medication. More about these guidelines is available at www.asbp.org.

About Dr. Lee Wesler
Dr. Lee Wesler is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatrics and obesity medicine, holds a Master of Psychopharmacology certificate, and an AHA/NCQA Cardiovascular Disease/ Stroke Provider certificate. Dr. Wesler is also a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. He practices at Day Kimball Medical Group’s internal medicine practice at 612 Hartford Pike in Dayville, Conn., and has practiced in Northeast Connecticut for 25 years.

About the American Board of Obesity Medicine
Since its founding in January 2012, ABOM has sought to further the accreditation of a sub-specialization of medical practice: obesity medicine. The ABOM offers a certification examination to assist physicians in attaining competency in this increasingly important and universally relevant aspect of medical care. Practitioners who take the exam are physicians from a variety of medical disciplines, including internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, endocrinology, surgery, preventative medicine, gastroenterology and sports medicine. Learn more at www.abom.org

About Day Kimball Healthcare
Day Kimball Healthcare is a non-profit, integrated medical services provider comprised of Day Kimball Hospital, healthcare centers in Danielson, Dayville, Plainfield and Putnam, Day Kimball HomeCare, Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, Day Kimball HomeMakers, Day Kimball Medical Group and Franklin Home Health. Its service area includes Northeast Connecticut as well as nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Day Kimball Healthcare’s comprehensive network is comprised of more than 1,400 employees including nearly 300 highly-skilled physicians, surgeons and specialists. Its website is daykimball.org.