Author: Maria Abreu September 03, 2024 | 4 minutes of reading |
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Miller School of Medicine director of the Crohn’s and Colitis Center and the first Latino president of the American Gastroenterology Association offers common sense solutions to obesity in Hispanic Americans.
For more than two decades, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called for action on obesity, and yet for more than two decades, obesity rates, particularly for Hispanic Americans, have continued to rise. Hispanics are one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States, so changing trends in obesity rates and related diseases in our community could affect the health of the nation as a whole. However, obesity has been misunderstood for years and we need new strategies to treat this serious disease.
Approximately 42 percent of American adults and 47 percent of Hispanic adults are obese—and obesity rates are rising rapidly—yet it is still misdiagnosed as a disease. Many believe that it can be cured with willpower, diet and more exercise, but this is wrong. Research has established that obesity is a chronic medical condition that affects multiple body systems—cardiovascular, endocrine, psychological, and gastrointestinal.
The evidence is clear. Effective treatment and management of obesity requires a different and multifaceted approach. Some data suggest that genetic differences combined with artificial ingredients in highly processed foods may make Hispanics more prone to obesity.
A range of obesity treatments
Many people with obesity believe their treatment options are limited to lifestyle changes or surgery, but a wide variety of treatment options are available. Unfortunately, many effective weight loss programs, services, and treatments are not covered by insurance plans. To add insult to injury, current Medicare rules deny millions of Americans access to some of the most effective obesity care. This means countless people cannot access the care they desperately need.
After decades of misunderstanding, we must support the resources and treatments we know can help the Hispanic community and millions of other Americans. Contact your elected officials and encourage them to support the passage of the Obesity Treatment and Reduction Act.
– Dr. Maria Abreu
As a Hispanic provider who treats many Hispanic patients, this is especially important to me because obesity and obesity-related health problems, such as liver disease, disproportionately affect my community. Maintaining a healthy weight is a critical way to improve obesity-related health problems and reverse or prevent some conditions before they become severe. However, maintaining a healthy weight is impossible without access to affordable and effective care.
Challenges in accessing obesity medications and treatments exacerbate health disparities in the Hispanic community. In Miami, we’re seeing patients whose insurance doesn’t cover obesity drugs turn to the black market for drugs. This dangerous situation shows how many Hispanic patients are looking for solutions.
In addition, some insurance plans do not cover other obesity treatments such as counseling by nutritionists. Medicare is an essential program for millions of older Hispanics, and they deserve access to the most up-to-date and effective resources.
“It’s time to act”
I am caring for a patient with poorly controlled Crohn’s disease from Colombia. Her family sends her black market Wegovy® to help her lose weight. He still hasn’t been able to lose weight and we are not sure if this is the real drug or not.
It is time to change the way obesity is viewed and managed in the United States. The bipartisan Obesity Treatment and Reduction Act expands Medicare coverage to include prescription drugs for chronic weight management, behavioral counseling, and other prevention and treatment options. Because many private insurance companies model their covered health benefits to mirror Medicare coverage, passage of the Obesity Treatment and Reduction Act could lead to increased obesity care coverage for all Americans.
After decades of misunderstanding, we must support the resources and treatments we know can help the Hispanic community and millions of other Americans. This law will be a very important first step in the right direction. The time for action has come. Contact your elected officials and encourage them to support the passage of the Obesity Treatment and Reduction Act.
Tags: Department of Gastrointestinal Health and Liver Diseases, Dr. Maria Abreu, Obesity