TOS Urges FDA to be Fair when Judging New Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches for Obesity
On July 15, 2010, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and its Advisory Committee on Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs held the first of three meetings - initiating a six-month period where the FDA will examine new pharmaceutical treatment avenues for those who struggle with their weight. The focus of the July 15 advisory committee meeting was QNEXA, a new weight loss drug developed by VIVUS, Inc. After a day-long review of the safety and efficacy of QNEXA, the advisory panel decided to not recommend approval for the new drug - citing concerns over lack of any two-year data regarding possible side effects of the drug. TOS Advocacy Task Force Member Dr. Caroline Apovian submitted a statement for the record and also spoke during the public meeting where she urged the FDA to help in finding safe and effective medications for obesity management.
Read TOS's response to the FDA Hearing, by clicking here.
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Ongoing Commitment to Advocacy
The Obesity Society is committed to advancing policy changes that address the current epidemic of obesity. Our advocacy program has three leading objectives:
- To assist in the development of programs designed to prevent obesity;
- To ensure patients have access to quality medical care for obesity treatment;
- To increase funding of obesity research.
To this end, The Obesity Society has worked with the United States Congress, the US Surgeon General, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HMOs and others. Details regarding our recent activities can be found on this page and throughout our website.
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TOS Leaders Hit Capitol Hill for Rolling Advocacy Program
On July 27, 2010, leadership from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the Obesity Action Coalition joined TOS Advocacy Task Force Member Dr. Caroline Apovian and Executive Director Francesca Dea in a series of visits with key policymakers in Washington, DC. The purpose of the advocacy day was to push for inclusion of comprehensive obesity treatment services in the essential benefits package that is currently being developed for the new health plan exchanges mandated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
This ongoing advocacy effort is meant to introduce legislators and their staff to the leading advocates for TOS from around the country - working to establish TOS as the primary resource for Congress on research issues related to prevention and treatment of obesity. Through these efforts, TOS is also putting Congress on notice about the society's coordinated activities with the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) to increase public awareness about weight bias and the negative consequences it can have for those affected.
In addition to meeting with Congressional staff from the offices of Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Representative Ron Kind (D-WI), and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the OAC, ASMBS and TOS contingent sat down with key staff from the Obama Administration from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Surgeon General. The highlight of the day was a return trip to the White House to meet with staff in the First Lady's Office to again urge Mrs. Obama and the President to advocate for both prevention and treatment services when developing strategies for addressing our country's obesity epidemic.
Taking to the Hill
Joe Nadglowski, Georgeann Mallory, RD, Bruce Wolfe, MD, Caroline Apovian, MD, John Morton, MD
| Highlights of HR 5209, The Healthy CHOICES Act:
- Establish BMI as a "vital sign" and require BMI information to be provided in vaccination records for school-age children.
- Establish grant program to help states disseminate information about BMI results to parents and children.
- Expand coverage for obesity prevention and treatment services in Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP.
- Expand Coverage of Medical Nutrition Therapy: Expand coverage of medical nutrition therapy in Medicaid and SCHIP.
- Provide grants to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity in communities disproportionately affected by overweight and obesity.
- Provide grants to train health professionals and health profession students on how to prevent and treat obesity.
- National Center for Health Statistics: Expand collection of data on obesity.
- Report on Obesity Research: Report on existing research and research gaps.
We encourage all TOS members to visit the Obesity Action Coalition's Legislative Action Center where you will be able to access a special message that you can email your legislators urging them to cosponsor HR 5209. To assist you in utilizing the action center, the OAC has developed a brief tutorial video that walks first-time users through the action center.
The Healthy CHOICES Act: Summary
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Obama Administration Includes Obesity Screening and Counseling Under Proposed Regulations on Cost Sharing for Preventive Health Services
On July 14, 2010, the Obama Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services released proposed regulations regarding cost sharing for preventative services covered under the new Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the proposed regulations, new health policies beginning on or after September 23, 2010, must cover preventive services that have strong scientific evidence ("A or B" rating from the U.S. Preventive Health Services Task Force) of their health benefits and will be prohibited from charging a patient a copayment, co-insurance or deductible for these services when they are delivered by a network provider.
The list of services specifically includes:
- Obesity screening and counseling for all adults
- Obesity screening and counseling for children over the age of six
TOS believes that this is a major first step in opening the door to coverage of comprehensive obesity treatment services. For the first time, many Americans will have the ability to have a conversation with their healthcare provider about their weight, receive counseling and it would be a covered visit. TOS will be providing formal comments on the proposed regulations later this month.
| 2009 Position Statements
The Obesity Society Calls Billboard Campaign Offensive and Off-Target
(September 21, 2009)
The Obesity Society Position on Recent Criticism of Surgeon General Nominee Regina Benjamin
(August 10, 2009)
Archived Position Statements
White Paper
Resolution
Solutions- Eradicating America's Obesity Epidemic
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