Keep your eyes tuned to the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act!The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, or TROA, is a bipartisan bill that continues to gain momentum as obesity care advocates nationwide fight to push it through Congress. If passed, TROA will expand insurance coverage for Medicare beneficiaries to include: screening, treatment of obesity from a diverse range of healthcare providers specializing in obesity care, and FDA-approved medications for chronic weight management.

The bill currently has strong support from more than 185 Republican and Democratic members of Congress. But despite its momentum, TROA has yet to come up for a committee or floor vote since it was first introduced in 2013.

There’s no question that a great need exists to show the public, including U.S. legislators, that obesity needs to be treated more seriously. Passing TROA is a significant step in that direction, but we can’t do it without all OAC supporters and obesity care advocates on board.

TROA: Who Benefits?

Directly, TROA will make a difference for individuals with Medicare benefits – and this is phenomenal, as seniors make up a significant portion of Medicare beneficiaries and nearly 4 in 10 have obesity. However, less than one percent is able to access obesity treatment services.

But even if you don’t have Medicare coverage, you can still benefit from changes to insurance plans which are modeled off of Medicare. Better access to healthcare = better living for all.

A Step in the Right Direction

TROA is a step in the right direction for improving obesity careThe OAC believes that individuals affected by obesity should be afforded with the same rights and access to care as other recognized disease states. Appropriate care can change lives.

TROA is also a bipartisan bill, as both Republicans and Democrats support it. Obesity itself is not a partisan issue because it can affect anyone. More so, this legislation:

  • IS NOT a part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
  • IS NOT affiliated with universal healthcare coverage
  • IS NOT part of the Green New Deal

We’re fighting for a better world for all people affected by obesity, and that world includes access to diverse and specialized healthcare providers as well as obesity treatment tools.

TROA will directly help the more than 40 percent of Americans over the age of 60 who suffer from obesity as well as more than 50 obesity-related conditions, including high blood pressure, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. This is legislation we can’t afford to overlook!

What You Can Do Right Now

Here are some easy ways you can help put TROA in the sights of lawmakers:

  • LEARN more about TROA at ObesityAction.org/TROA
  • SPREAD THE WORD about TROA on social media, in your support groups, and with your friends, family and colleagues.
  • SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES about living with obesity or seeking treatment to help lawmakers understand why it’s important to expand access to obesity care: WeightoftheWorld.com

*Please stay tuned for more updates about TROA as they are released.