Supporting the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, the number of Americans living with obesity is reaching record levels. Today, nearly 100 million Americans are living with obesity, a complex chronic condition associated with other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and even cancer.

Obesity also disproportionately impacts communities of color, particularly Black and Latino adults. Nearly half (49.6 percent) of Black Americans and 44.8 percent of Latino Americans are living with obesity, compared to 42.2 percent of their white counterparts. In my district in Southern California, which is more than two-thirds Latino, rates of diabetes and obesity are among the highest in the state.

Unfortunately, outdated Medicare rules deny access to effective obesity care for millions of Americans. Despite a 2013 decision by the American Medical Association recognizing obesity as a treatable disease, Medicare still stigmatizes obesity as a choice and denies access to the full continuum of care.

This is something we can change. Right now, there is legislation--The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act--that would modernize Medicare by providing access to anti-obesity medications and intensive behavioral therapy, thus expanding care to millions of Americans.

New data shows that the American people support Congressional action to expand access to coverage for obesity treatments. 70 percent of adults surveyed in a recent Morning Consult poll conducted on behalf of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network support expanding Medicare coverage for prevention and treatment of obesity in adults.

I urge all of Congress to join me in supporting the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act to begin to address our obesity epidemic in California and across the country.

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