The Effects of Long-Term Obesity Care Three Years Later

Three years after beginning obesity treatment, Karen isn’t interested in talking about her weight. She wants to talk about walking. At 76 years old, Karen walks a mile and a half every day, goes to the gym four to five times a week for light strength and resistance training, travels to visit family and friends
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The Obesity Action Coalition’s 2026 Your Weight Matters National Convention brought upwards of 500 people together in Orlando for three unforgettable days of education, connection and community. Held July 23-25 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, YWM2026 welcomed people affected by obesity, caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocates and leading experts from across the country. Some attendees
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Story from OAC Member Sue G. I have lived with obesity for as long as I can remember. As a child growing up in the 1950s, I was the chubby baby, the chunky child and eventually the “fat kid.”  When I was 12 years old, my weight reached 184 pounds, and my mother took me
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Maryland’s obesity care legislation has officially become law, marking an important step forward for patients seeking access to obesity treatment. While this new law removes barriers and creates opportunities for expanded access, coverage is not automatically guaranteed. OAC will continue monitoring implementation and advocating to ensure patients can fully benefit from these policy changes. For
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Louisiana is taking an important step to expand access to obesity care. On June 9, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed Senate Bill 433 into law. Beginning in January 2027, the law will allow Louisiana Medicaid to provide coverage for FDA-approved obesity medications for eligible beneficiaries. This is meaningful progress for people living with obesity, a
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Story from OAC Member Angela Young The first sign that Wegovy was working wasn’t the 30 pounds I lost. The first sign was, for the first time in my life, the food noise was gone. And I mean gone. If you’ve lived with obesity, you may know what I mean. Food can take up so
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Story from OAC Member Sandi Henderson When people ask why I advocate, the answer is simple: I’ve lived the reality of obesity, and I know what access to treatment can mean. My journey began in 2004 when I underwent Lap-Band surgery at 424 pounds. The surgery changed my life. I lost 232 pounds and maintained
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If this is your first Your Weight Matters National Convention, you might be feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. That’s completely normal. From the moment you arrive, you’ll discover the National Convention is unlike any other conference. It’s a place where education, support and community come together in an environment built on respect, understanding
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By Sarah Bramblette, MSHL, OAC Senior Advocacy Manager I was born with lipedema, but I didn’t know it growing up. I spent my childhood wondering why my body looked different from my siblings’ and my friends’ even though we ate the same foods, played the same outdoor games and walked to school together. I was
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Story from OAC Member Andrea Matthes  Content Warning: This story contains discussion of miscarriage, pregnancy loss and related health experiences. When people hear my story, they often assume that losing 164 pounds was the hardest part. In reality, the hardest part was realizing that even after all of that weight loss, something still wasn’t right.
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Story from OAC Member Christine J.  I found the OAC through two friends. One of those friends brought me to my first workshop in Boston, and for the first time, I was in a room full of people who understood many of the same things I had been carrying. That feeling of being understood was
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Story from OAC Member Nicole Bullock  For as long as I can remember, my legs were different. When I entered puberty, my thighs were much larger than those of the other girls at school. I played soccer for eight seasons, but I hated wearing the team-issued shorts that seemed to draw attention to my legs. At
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