OAC Calls on PepsiCo to Keep Obesity Treatment Coverage for Employees

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is calling on PepsiCo to reverse its reported decision to end coverage of GLP-1 medications for obesity for some employees beginning in October.

Reports indicate PepsiCo says the change is necessary to keep healthcare sustainable and affordable for all employees. But cutting treatment for employees living with obesity does not provide healthcare for all employees.

"If PepsiCo is committed to protecting healthcare for all employees, that must include employees living with obesity," said OAC President and CEO Joe Nadglowski. "Obesity is a chronic disease, and its treatment should not be singled out for exclusion."

Employees may instead be directed to manufacturer self-pay programs. But asking someone to spend $300 to $500 every month to continue treatment is not affordable access and is not a meaningful replacement for insurance coverage. Health plans routinely cover medications at a range of costs. Obesity treatment deserves the same consideration.

The decision is even harder to reconcile with PepsiCo's business strategy. The company is developing products with added protein and fiber specifically with GLP-1 consumers in mind, including Propel Clear Protein, which PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta has said is targeted to GLP-1 medication users.

PepsiCo should not view people using GLP-1s as consumers worth investing in while making treatment harder to access for its own employees. 

OAC is urging PepsiCo to reverse this decision and calling on individuals across the country to take action. Tell PepsiCo that employees living with obesity deserve equitable access to treatment and that cutting coverage for obesity care is not consistent with a commitment to providing healthcare for all employees.

About:
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is a National nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by obesity through education, advocacy and support. The OAC is the first and only organization of its kind and the nation's leading voice representing those impacted by obesity. To learn more about our work, please visit www.obesityaction.org.

SOURCE Obesity Action Coalition