The Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention's (AWHP) EveryBODY Covered campaign delivered an open letter to executives at top workplaces for women, calling for obesity to be covered by their health plans, just like any other chronic disease. The letter was signed by 68 organisations, representing a diverse and leading group of voices across the healthcare community—such as the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, the Obesity Care Advocacy Network and the National Consumers League.
The letter highlights the impact obesity has on women - particularly women of colour - and the role comprehensive obesity care coverage can play in supporting employees living with obesity. It also outlines three key principles employers can use as a guide for prioritising obesity in their workplace healthcare and equity strategies, including:
Recognising obesity as a chronic disease with causes that include those outside an individual's control.
Reviewing benefits offerings for opportunities to better support obesity care for employees and communicate coverage as a priority to benefits administrators.
Working against weight bias at every level of a company and making sure that this is demonstrated through the company's culture.
"Employers have been making great strides in supporting employees living with obesity, and we want to see that momentum continue so that even more employees - and especially women - nationwide can access the care they need," said Millicent Gorham, CEO of AWHP. "Covering obesity care is about prevention. If you prioritise preventing breast cancer, heart disease, mental health issues or hundreds of other diseases, then you should also prioritise obesity care. Employees are eager for obesity to be treated like the chronic disease that it is."
In addition to the physical impact, obesity also has social and financial impacts, particularly for women. Women affected by obesity earn as much as 12% less than those not affected by obesity and are less likely to be promoted at work. Further, in an AWHP-commissioned survey released in 2024, one-third of women said that living with obesity impacts their work and career goals, underscoring the essential role that employers can play in reducing the negative effects of obesity on their employees.
"Obesity not only negatively impacts individuals living with the disease, it has significant costs for employers and places a serious strain on our health system," said Shawn Gremminger, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. "As employers of all sizes continue to face competing priorities when it comes to supporting the health and well-being of employees, it is imperative that stakeholders across the ecosystem come together to implement sustainable strategies to provide comprehensive care for those living with the chronic disease of obesity."
As of last year, about half of employers currently cover or are considering covering medications for obesity. Less than a quarter (22%) of employers believe that obesity is a chronic condition for which obesity management medications should be covered, while just a slightly higher percentage (23%) believe it is a lifestyle condition for which GLP-1 medications should not be covered.
"We know that obesity is a chronic yet treatable disease and a public health concern that impacts the lives of more than 1 in 3 American women," said George Huntley, CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council. "It is critical that everyone, and particularly employers, view obesity with the same lens we view diseases like diabetes and ensure individuals have the support they need to access obesity care options that are right for them."
EveryBODY Covered launched in February 2024 as a US effort working in partnership with 20 partner organisations to ensure that everybody has access to needed obesity care, including FDA-approved medications.
Support for the EveryBODY Covered campaign has been provided by Eli Lilly & Company.
As Obesity Care Week (OCW) 2025 continues, supporters nationwide are rallying behind the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Proposed Rule, which could expand Medicare Part D coverage to include FDA-approved obesity medications. If finalised, this rule would be a historic milestone in ensuring millions of Americans with obesity have access to the treatment they need.
Currently, Medicare does not cover anti-obesity medications, despite obesity being recognised as a chronic and treatable disease. This outdated policy leaves millions without medically recommended care, limiting their ability to manage their health effectively. Patients and healthcare professionals alike are calling on policymakers to support the CMS Proposed Rule and help close this dangerous gap in obesity treatment.
"Expanding access to obesity care through Medicare is long-overdue," said Tracy Zvenyach, Director of Policy Strategy and Alliances at Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). "Policymakers must recognize that treating obesity isn't just about weight, it's about improving overall health and reducing the burden of chronic diseases."
With OCW in full swing, individuals are encouraged to take action by sending a letter to President Trump, urging him and his administration to support the CMS Proposed Rule. Public momentum continues to grow, with more than 30,000 comments submitted to CMS, an overwhelming majority in favour of expanding access to obesity medications.
OCW is supported by Founding Champions, including the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, The Obesity Society (TOS), American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), and the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA). It is also backed by more than 160 supporting Champion organizations and is sponsored by Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Regeneron, Amgen, Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Currax Pharmaceuticals, Prosciento and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals.
Launched in 2015, Obesity Care Week is a national awareness campaign working to advance a science-based understanding of obesity and promote widespread access to respectful, comprehensive and appropriate care.
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