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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity rates in the U.S. have increased dramatically over the last 30 years. The diabetes community cares deeply about this topic because, to effectively prevent and manage diabetes, access to obesity treatments is crucial. Obesity leaves Americans vulnerable to type 2 diabetes and more than 200 other serious health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
A landmark National Diabetes Prevention Program study found that the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes is reduced by 59% when lifestyle modifications are made. Similarly, the use of a weight loss drug reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 94% in obese or overweight adults with pre-diabetes compared to a placebo, according to initial results from a long-term study.i
In order to make America healthier, obesity must be addressed, treated and managed effectively. Scientific innovation has led to a number of prevention and treatment options. However, Medicare and many other payers have not kept pace with the science, leaving millions of people vulnerable to costly chronic illnesses and premature death due to lack of treatment for obesity. To be most effective, obesity management must encompass the full continuum of care, include the best standards of treatment, and coordination of care, including intensive behavioral therapy (IBT), Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), and pharmaceutical treatments. The current policy is incomplete, inefficient, and disrupts the continuity of care for patients.
DLC Supports:
• Expanding access for patients to the full continuum of care including medication; Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) and Medical Nutritional Therapy (MNT) and other evidence-based, community-based lifestyle counseling programs
• Covering anti-obesity medications (AOM) for beneficiaries with obesity in Medicare Part D, which would be a net cost saver for the federal government, as better health outcomes translate to lower health costs later in life
These policies would be a net cost saver for the federal government, as better health outcomes translate to lower health costs later in life. Professional societies like the American Medical Association and Endocrine Society recognize the significance of addressing the obesity epidemic, linked to an overall increase in annual healthcare costs of $1,861 per adult, totaling $170 billion in excess expenditures annually.ii
