Certification

Overview of the Certified Obesity Medical Physician (COMP) Program

Every day more people are forced to deal with being overweight or obese and the co-morbidities associated with it. Your knowledge and skills as a physician are vital to the health and well being of your patients. The Obesity Society, the recognized leader in research and education on the causes and treatment of obesity, has united with 12 professional societies to jointly develop and offer a credential that recognizes your achieved expertise, the Certified Obesity Medical Physician (COMP).

The COMP credential is a voluntary certification for physicians (MD and DO only) designed to elevate the professional standard of experience and expertise in the treatment of obesity and influence the future of this vital field. The COMP designation serves as a mark of distinction for physicians treating overweight and obese patients, raising their standing among peers and the public.

A COMP is recognized as an individual who has met a rigorous standard of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of obesity and has demonstrated their knowledge of the practice and related disciplines through a thorough examination of obesity medical competency.

When you apply for the COMP examination, you are taking the first step toward joining a distinguished group of professionals who have made a commitment to professional excellence, career advancement, and an ongoing pursuit of knowledge.

Partnering Organizations

The COMP program is governed by an inter-societal Steering Committee representing 13 professional societies. The member societies are:

American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP)
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists (ABPNS)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
American Dietetic Association
American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)
American Heart Association (AHA)
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN)
The Endocrine Society (ENDO)
The Obesity Society (TOS)

Program History and Status

The 18-month process of establishing an examination was initiated by The Obesity Society in 2008 with an expected completion in March 2010. The body of knowledge required by physicians of obesity medicine was begun by a Practice Analysis Task Force and reviewed by two focus group panels and 25 subject-matter experts in nutrition, exercise, psychology and medicine. An internet-based validation survey to assess importance and time spent for each item was subsequently completed by 238 physicians from internal medicine, pediatrics and family practice. The Steering Committee is now beginning phase II of the process - writing questions for the examination.

Over the coming months, a multiple-choice certification exam will be developed, based on the practice analysis mentioned above. Candidates will be tested on their knowledge of the following four domains of practice: basic knowledge, diagnosis and evaluation, treatment, and practice management.

As additional program details become finalized, i.e., eligibility requirements, pricing, exam dates, etc., it will be posted on this website. Please check back in the coming months for additional details.

"Approximately two-thirds of adults and 32 percent of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. In light of the complexity and significance of the problem worldwide, the time is right for training and recognizing physicians who are experts in the care of patients with obesity."

-Robert F. Kushner, MD, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

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