Yiorgos Rigakos is a leading personal trainer/coach at the Rehoboth Beach Barbell Club.
In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared obesity an epidemic in the United States. In the quarter-century since, obesity now affects almost 42% of American adults. The situation is more dire in communities of color, as well as among those who lack access to adequate health care — Black adults have the highest rates of obesity in the U.S. at 49.9%, while 45.6% of Hispanic adults are impacted. In addition, the prevalence of obesity in rural communities is on average 6.2 times higher than in our suburban and urban counties, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is evident that obesity has progressively gotten worse in our most vulnerable communities. Thankfully, the scientific community has made advancements in treatments for obesity. Now is the time to move away from antiquated views on obesity, as the American Medical Association recently announced its support of insurance companies covering the cost of antiobesity medications. This is a step in the right direction, but we need our federal government to act and cover these drugs through Medicare Part D.
Obesity is not a disease caused by poor life choices or a lack of willpower to exercise. Rather, obesity is a multifactorial disease that has devastating consequences. Research released by NIH states that individuals suffering from obesity have a 50%-100% increased risk of premature death compared to others, which is a more distinct gap than that between smokers and nonsmokers. Obesity-related cardiovascular disease deaths alone tripled between 1999 and 2020, and some research suggests that almost 60% of Black women have some form of cardiovascular disease.
Put simply, we don’t have to sit back and allow tens of thousands of people to suffer unnecessarily in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. According to a groundbreaking study in The New England Journal of Medicine, antiobesity medications can reduce the risk of serious heart problems by up to 20%. While the popular opinion is that they are simply cosmetic treatments, this research proves they can help improve hundreds of thousands of American lives.
As a personal trainer and fitness enthusiast, I am grateful for the role that exercise has played in my life. Yet, many Americans living with obesity are unable start their fitness journeys due to the associated diseases that afflict them. For this reason, it is worth reiterating that these drugs are not cosmetic devices — they can holistically transform lives. Through more equitable AOM coverage, our leaders can empower people to start their fight against obesity. By doing so, we can transform America into a healthier and happier nation.
Given the positive impact antiobesity medications will have on the overall quality of our nation’s health, it is imperative for Congress and the White House to make them available through Medicare Part D. We have the tools to fix this. What we need are the leaders to enact the change in policy.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org .
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