Most Americans view obesity as a disease, with over 80% saying insurance must cover both medication and surgery.
Nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States (63%) now understand that obesity is a chronic disease rather than a personal shortcoming, and more than eight in ten say that insurance should provide coverage for its treatment, including both medications and surgical options, according to a nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll for the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).(1✔ ✔Trusted Source
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Effective #obesity_treatments can reverse or improve more than 200 medical conditions, including diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea, yet many #insurance plans still classify obesity as a “lifestyle issue,” not a #chronic_disease, limiting coverage despite the proven medical benefits.
Obesity Treatment and Persistent Barriers
“The American public is highly aware that obesity is medically treatable and that reducing it will also save people from a wide variety of other serious diseases,” said Pooja Singhal, MD, AGAF, gastroenterologist, hepatologist, and obesity medicine specialist at Oklahoma Gastro Health and Wellness.
“Despite this awareness, access to treatment, particularly because of cost, is a major barrier. This AGA survey reinforces the urgent need for increased coverage of safe, effective, and life-saving treatments for obesity.”
Two-thirds of Americans (66%) say they are familiar with weight loss trends (e.g., keto and intermittent fasting), and nearly 6 in 10 are familiar with new weight-loss medications and surgeries.
Still, more than 4 in 5 (81%) cite barriers that make or would make it difficult or prevent them from accessing treatment if they need it. Top roadblocks cited include high out-of-pocket costs (50%) and a lack of insurance coverage for procedures or medications (40%), among other obstacles.
More than half of Americans (57%) believe losing weight requires the assistance of a health care provider. Eight in 10 (80%) say that gastroenterologists play a crucial role in obesity care, but 61% also say they cannot afford weight-loss interventions beyond personal lifestyle changes.
Some also report that difficulties finding an available provider (24%) and experiencing long wait times for appointments or procedures (23%) are, or would be, barriers to accessing weight-loss treatment if they needed it.
Gastroenterologists and Policy Barriers
“When it comes to weight management and obesity care, gastroenterologists should be considered providers of direct care,” Dr. Singhal said.
“Many serious GI-related medical conditions like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are associated with obesity and could be treated or resolved with weight management.”
Medicare cannot currently cover weight-loss medications for patients without a co-occurring medical condition unless lawmakers change the law.
Lawmakers first introduced the bipartisan Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) in 2013 to expand Medicare coverage and improve access to obesity-prevention and treatment tools, including prescription medications and intensive behavioral therapy. Unfortunately, despite strong support, TROA has languished in Congress and has been reintroduced in every Congressional session for the past 12 years.
“There is an urgent need for expanded access to affordable, effective treatments for obesity,” said Shazia M. Siddique, MD, MSHP, AGA Government Affairs Committee and assistant professor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania. “Passing TROA is one way to expand access and improve early intervention and treatment options, helping patients live healthier, more productive lives.”
Public Understanding and Health Risks
About seven of 10 Americans (73%) say they have been diagnosed with a medical condition by a health care provider, including 17% with obesity. The latter group was more likely to suffer from other illnesses and more likely to cite difficulties obtaining weight loss treatment (91% vs. 79% not diagnosed with obesity).
Americans named a mix of behavioral and genetic conditions as contributors to obesity, including eating patterns/nutrition (70%), level of physical activity (67%), mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression (61%), and genetics (58%).
87% of Americans believe obesity increases the risk (or can worsen existing symptoms) of other chronic conditions.
Nearly 2 in 3 Americans (64%) understand the connection between obesity and a person’s specific risk for liver disease.
Reference:
- Gluten sensitivity: It’s not actually about gluten – https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2025/october/gluten-sensitivity-its-not-actually-about-gluten)
Source-American Gastroenterological Association