There are more than 123 million people in the U.S. living with obesity, and this prevalence is largely due to a lack of access to care, environmental factors, stigma and inadequate coverage, according to a new report. Tackling these issues will take a “multifaceted approach,” the report states.
The publication was released last week in the American Journal of Managed Care and was funded by the Diabetes Leadership Council, a nonprofit patient advocacy organization. The researchers conducted an internet search of relevant studies and government reports.
“Our goal is to ensure that people are getting the right treatment at the right time for them. And we understand that this looks differently for everybody … and not everyone fits the same mold,” said Erin Callahan, chief operating officer of Diabetes Leadership Council and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, in an interview. “So our goal is to ensure that people are well cared for and have equitable access to the things they need along any part of their medical journey.”
Understanding EGPA: The Role of Eosinophils and Advancements in Treatment Options
FASENRA® (benralizumab) injection, for subcutaneous use, 30 mg is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). FASENRA provides a treatment option for HCPs to consider when managing this challenging disease.
The report explains that obesity is a leading contributor to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other serious conditions. About one in five deaths among Black and White American adults aged 40 to 85 is attributable to obesity. Additionally, significant disparities exist: obesity is most prevalent among Black adults and those with incomes between 130% and 350% of the federal poverty level.
Obesity also has a major economic impact. Healthcare costs related to obesity exceed $260 billion annually in the US, representing over 50% higher medical expenses per person compared to those with normal weight.
There are several contributors to the obesity epidemic, including the lack of access to providers, services and healthy food, according to the report. In addition, there is very little insurance coverage for needed services. Medicare doesn’t cover weight loss medications due to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, and many employer insurance plans don’t provide coverage either.
Ultimately, a lot of these issues stem from the stigma around obesity. There is an “unfair presumption” that those with obesity are “unintelligent, lazy, and lack the self-discipline necessary to achieve and maintain a healthy weight,” the report states.
Changes in Nurse Staffing Answer Clinician Demands
The ongoing nursing shortage facilitates high turnover rates since nurses know they won’t have difficulties finding new jobs. In order to retain and attract staff, it’s in a facility’s best interest to understand what nurses want.
“Part of the reason this isn’t covered is the stigma that they don’t deserve it, this is the patient’s fault.” said George Huntley, CEO and founding member of the Diabetes Leadership Council and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, in an interview. “We’ve got to go from blame to biology in that dialogue.”
To improve obesity management in the U.S., the report laid out several recommendations. The healthcare industry needs to expand coverage for a range of treatments, including anti-obesity medications, medical nutritional therapy and intensive behavioral therapy. One such effort that would improve coverage is passing the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which would expand Medicare coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity.
The report also calls on supporting primary care physicians. It cited a recent survey of primary care physicians that asked them to identify opportunities to advance obesity care. The respondents listed areas like education on local obesity treatment resources, evidence-based dietary counseling strategies, peers trained in obesity medicine and dietitians.
Lastly, the stigma associated with obesity needs to be addressed. There need to be educational initiatives in medical schools and clinical practices that focus on “reducing stigma and utilizing behavioral interventions and anti-obesity medications with patients,” according to the report.
Huntley noted that the tactics used in the anti-smoking campaign of the 1970s and 1980s won’t work in addressing the obesity epidemic.
“In those campaigns, blame and shame worked. And it doesn’t work on this one. … It backfires in the case of obesity. It makes the problem worse, not better,” Huntley argued.
Photo: eakrin rasadonyindee, Getty Images