Equity and Obesity Treatment — Expanding Medicaid-Covered Interventions

This Perspective article advocates for expanding Medicaid coverage of comprehensive obesity-management interventions. The authors critique simplistic approaches rooted in personal responsibility and highlight the complex biopsychosocial nature of obesity, particularly among low-income and racially marginalized populations disproportionately affected. They argue for inclusion of evidence-based treatments beyond brief counseling and bariatric surgery, including behavioral programs and FDA-approved pharmacotherapies (e.g. GLP-1 agonists). The piece emphasizes that current Medicaid restrictions—largely excluding coverage for antiobesity drugs and comprehensive lifestyle interventions—undermine health equity. Legislative efforts like the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act aim to address these gaps, and authors call for policy shifts recognizing obesity as a chronic disease warranting broad-based intervention.

This Perspective article advocates for expanding Medicaid coverage of comprehensive obesity-management interventions. The authors critique simplistic approaches rooted in personal responsibility and highlight the complex biopsychosocial nature of obesity, particularly among low-income and racially marginalized populations disproportionately affected. They argue for inclusion of evidence-based treatments beyond brief counseling and bariatric surgery, including behavioral programs and FDA-approved pharmacotherapies (e.g. GLP-1 agonists). The piece emphasizes that current Medicaid restrictions—largely excluding coverage for antiobesity drugs and comprehensive lifestyle interventions—undermine health equity. Legislative efforts like the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act aim to address these gaps, and authors call for policy shifts recognizing obesity as a chronic disease warranting broad-based intervention.