Advocates from the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) Join Together to Gain Support for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019 during an Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill

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Feb 28, 2019, 09:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today 35 individuals from across the country joined together on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, to visit more than 100 Congressional offices in a show of support for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) of 2019.

Organized by leaders of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN), members of the OAC and others set out to spread awareness and gain support for TROA. Advocates are urging legislators to support and cosponsor this key obesity care legislation which will provide Medicare beneficiaries and their healthcare providers meaningful tools to treat obesity by:

Improving access to weight management counseling.
Allowing for coverage of FDA-approved medications for chronic weight management.

Having access to expanded care and FDA-approved medications for the treatment of obesity can be life-changing. Studies have shown that weight-loss as small as 5-10 percent can improve the overall health of an individual living with the disease of obesity.

"It is wonderful to see individuals, organizations and healthcare providers come together to advocate for the passage of The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019. TROA has the ability to directly improve the quality of life for the more than 40 percent of Americans over the age of 60 who are affected by obesity as well as many obesity-related conditions such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes," explained Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.

For more information on this important bipartisan legislation and to let your Senator or Representative know you want them to support TROA, please visit: ObesityAction.org/TROA.

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a more than 60,000 member-strong National non-profit organization, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by the disease of obesity through education, advocacy and support.

SOURCE Obesity Action Coalition