New Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity as Chronic Disease: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology Publish Overarching Framework
09-19-2014

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – (September 19, 2014) – The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) today announced the publication of its position statement detailing its advanced framework for a new diagnosis of obesity as a chronic disease. The position statement appears in the Volume 20, Issue 9, September 2014 issue of AACE’s peer-reviewed journal, Endocrine Practice and is available online (free access) at: https://www.aace.com/files/position-statements/framework-position-statement.pdf.  

The position statement is the outgrowth of AACE/ACE’s March 2014 AACE/ACE Consensus Conference on Obesity: Building an Evidence Base for Comprehensive Action, which convened in Washington, D.C. to identify the myriad of issues surrounding the obesity epidemic and generate a meaningful, medically actionable and economically viable model for diagnosis and treatment of obesity as a disease state.

The framework details: 

  • A new obesity diagnosis algorithm in which traditional body mass index (adjusted for ethnic differences) and waist circumference measurements would be augmented by assessment of the presence and severity of obesity-related complications to guide treatment and intensity of therapies 

  • Structured criteria for diagnostic staging of weight-related medical conditions based on complications-specific criteria 

  • Tiered primary, secondary and tertiary therapeutic interventions for prevention or treatment of obesity and obesity-related complications 

 Until now, old-order thinking that obesity is a lifestyle choice has failed us and has allowed us to ignore or dismiss the need to implement a robust medical model for prevention and treatment of the disease,” said W. Timothy Garvey, M.D., chair of the AACE/ACE consensus conference and AACE’s Obesity Scientific Committee. “By incorporating the invaluable insight and essential input of representatives from the biomedical, governmental and regulatory, health care, organizational, educational and research arenas into our framework, we believe we’ve created the optimal foundation for a comprehensive obesity model that ultimately can exact the changes necessary to advance obesity treatment. This framework for the new diagnosis of obesity will undergo ongoing scrutiny and development in collaboration with the broad array of stakeholders who attended the consensus conference, with the intention that it promotes concerted action to combat obesity.”

In continued collaboration with involved stakeholders, AACE plans to develop a detailed action plan, implementation strategies and logistics necessary to advance obesity interventions and treatment. 

AACE’s Board of Directors declared obesity a disease state in July 2011. The association also was the author of the resolution adopted in June 2013 by the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates recognizing obesity as a disease. 

About the Journal 

Endocrine Practice, the official journal of the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), is a peer-reviewed journal published twelve times a year. The Journal publishes the latest information in the treatment of diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity, growth hormone deficiency, sexual dysfunction and osteoporosis, and contains original articles, case reports, review articles, commentaries, editorials, visual vignettes, as well as classified and display advertising.  Special issues of Endocrine Practice also include AACE clinical practice guidelines and other AACE/ACE white papers. Complete content is available on the Endocrine Practice Web site at www.endocrinepractice.org.

About the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 6,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. Visit our site at www.aace.com.

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) 
The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). ACE is the leader in advancing the care and prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by: providing professional education and reliable public health information; recognizing excellence in education, research and service; promoting clinical research and defining the future of Clinical Endocrinology. For more information, please visit www.aace.com/college.