Nearly 40,000 People Urge Employers to Cover Comprehensive Obesity Care

Almost 40,000 people have signed a petition calling on employers to provide comprehensive obesity care coverage. 

The petition came from the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention’s (AWHP) EveryBODY Covered Campaign, which launched in February of 2024 and seeks to expand coverage of obesity care. Specifically, the petition makes three demands of employers:

• Acknowledge obesity as a chronic health condition influenced by multiple factors, many of which are beyond an individual’s control.
• Evaluate employee benefits to identify opportunities to improve obesity care support, and ensure that coverage is clearly communicated as a priority to benefits administrators. They should also cover the full range of obesity care options, including FDA-approved medications like GLP-1s, bariatric surgery, behavioral interventions and nutrition services.
• Combat weight bias at “every level of the company” by educating employees, using person-first language and providing accommodations for employees living with obesity.

“Behind each of these signatures is an individual who understands the challenges of living with obesity without adequate insurance coverage – either shaped by personal experience or that of a colleague or loved one,” said Millicent Gorham, CEO of AWHP, in a statement. “Obesity is a chronic, yet treatable, disease that has a significant impact on Americans – particularly women – throughout their lives. By offering coverage for comprehensive obesity care, employers can improve overall workforce health, increase productivity and, ultimately, save money.”

AWHP notes that obesity is associated with over 200 health complications, yet many health plans still exclude or limit coverage for obesity care. In addition, research shows that women living with obesity earn 9% less than those not living with obesity and are less likely to get promoted.

Providing comprehensive obesity care support is an investment in a more productive workforce, according to Cassie Maxwell, an EveryBODY Covered advocate from West Virginia. 

“As a working mom who has experienced losing coverage for FDA-approved obesity management medications, the significant support for this petition represents my perspective and those of thousands of other working women who are calling on their employers to provide the support we need to thrive in both our professional and personal lives,” she said.

This petition comes as some insurers are rolling back coverage of GLP-1s for weight loss, though still covering them for diabetes. This includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. In addition, a recent Business Group on Health survey found that 73% of self-insured employers cover GLP-1s for obesity, while 99% cover them for diabetes.

“To see insurers roll back coverage of these evidence-based therapies is deeply concerning, as these decisions reinforce the culture of stigmatization for women living with obesity, while also exacerbating health complications associated with the disease,” Gorham previously told MedCity News.

Photo: Jason Dean, Getty Images