Obesity is on the rise in the United States—for both adults and children. Today, it’s estimated that 40% of U.S. adults have obesity and nearly 90% of those living with diabetes have overweight or obesity. Obesity is a major contributor to disease and is linked to 200 medical conditions.
In a recent American Diabetes Association® (ADA) survey on the impact of health care costs, nearly 70% of respondents reported the high cost of health care being a primary barrier to health and 76% of respondents supported adding coverage for weight loss medications.
“The ADA was pleased by the White House’s announcement of its plan to increase access to obesity medications and lower prices of these life-changing medications for individuals, including Medicare beneficiaries who have not had access. Too many of our nation’s citizens are struggling with obesity and overweight without access to proven tools and resources. In light of the growing numbers of obesity and overweight in the U.S., action can’t come soon enough, and we are eager to see the implementation of this plan,” said Charles “Chuck” Henderson, the ADA’s chief executive officer.
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure diabetes—and we’re not stopping. There are 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).
