OAC Blog

Access to science-based obesity care should not depend on where someone lives or what type of health coverage they have. That is why the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is recognizing Indiana for taking an important step toward expanding access to obesity treatment for eligible Medicaid beneficiaries. Indiana announced that its Medicaid program will participate in
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September is PCOS Awareness Month, a time to recognize the people living with polycystic ovary syndrome and raise awareness about the need for better understanding, research and care. Earlier this year, polycystic ovary syndrome was renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). For Elizabeth Zibilich, who lives with the condition, the change feels like a step
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Across the country, changes to obesity medication coverage are putting access to treatment at risk, and patients in Massachusetts are feeling the impact. Beginning July 1, MassHealth stopped covering medications used only for the treatment of obesity or overweight.  These decisions and insurance policies are more than words on paper. For patients, they can mean
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September is National Childhood Obesity Month, a time to recognize the experiences of children and families affected by obesity and the importance of compassionate care. For Jeannie, this is personal. As a mother of two daughters affected by obesity, she has watched Annie and Abbie navigate weight bias at school, assumptions about what they can
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For years, Carol tried different approaches to manage her weight. She tried keto, cutting out carbohydrates and even severely restricting how much she ate. Some approaches worked for a while, but they were difficult to maintain. Then, during a routine physical, her doctor offered her Zepbound. “It was a game changer,” Carol said. For the
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PepsiCo has reportedly decided to end coverage of GLP-1 medications used for weight loss for some employees beginning in October. These medications are science-based treatments for obesity, a complex, chronic disease, with weight loss being one outcome of treatment. Restricting coverage threatens access to medically necessary obesity care. The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is calling
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Story from OAC Member Meladee N. If you had asked me years ago whether I thought I would spend decades searching for the right obesity treatment, my answer would have been a definite “yes.” Over the course of my life, I followed commercial weight-loss programs, medically supervised diets and plans that promised lasting results. My
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As employers across the country weigh the cost of covering GLP-1 medications for obesity, Bank of America is taking a different approach: keep providing access, work to bring costs down and view obesity treatment as an investment in employees. The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) applauds that approach. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan recently told
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For more than a decade, Patty Nece has been part of the OAC Community. But before finding OAC, talking about her weight was something she avoided. “I was too embarrassed and ashamed,” Patty said. “I felt like a failure because I couldn’t manage my weight on my own.” Through OAC, Patty began learning more about
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When Cheryl first heard about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, she immediately began researching. She printed guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), scheduled an appointment with her primary care physician and arrived with the information she believed they would need to understand the new program. Her physician had not heard of
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What We’re Learning and Why It Matters For years, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) has advocated for a simple principle: People affected by obesity deserve access to science-based treatment just as people living with other chronic diseases do. On July 1, 2026, Medicare took an important step in that direction with the launch of the
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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) worked together to create Talking With Your Healthcare Professional About Obesity, Health & Aging, a practical guide for older adults and their families. Obesity can affect mobility, independence and quality of life. The guide helps older adults consider their personal health goals and
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