Obesity continues to be one of the most misunderstood and undertreated diseases in the United States. This, despite being the leading cause of serious comorbidities like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, some cancers, and obstructive sleep apnea — all drivers of significant healthcare spending.
We continue to see advances in medical research and obesity treatments, yet, far too often, coverage decisions are swayed by long-standing misconceptions about obesity. Many of us were raised in a culture that blamed people for their weight struggles. We all saw commercials for fad diets, magazines fat-shaming celebrities, endless point counting and silly diet products like fat-free cookies. Diet culture has undeniably influenced all of us.
