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.
|
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
|
TOS Leaders Hit Capitol Hill for First Rolling Advocacy Program
On Friday, May 7, Dr. Robert Kushner, Dr. Caroline Apovian and Ted Kyle participated in the first of what will be many "rolling advocacy days" on Capitol Hill for members of TOS's leadership and Advocacy Task Force. During the day, the group met with Congressional staff from the offices of Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA), Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA), Representative Michael Capuano (D-MA), Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI).
This new advocacy effort will 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 highlighting the above pillars of the society's advocacy platform, the group also educated Hill staff about some of the legislative initiatives that TOS is supporting on Capitol Hill. One example was educating Congressional staff about TOS's strong support for HR 5209, Representative Ron Kind's Healthy CHOICES (Communities through Helping to Offer Incentives and Choices to Everyone in Society) Act - comprehensive legislation targeting many of the critical areas surrounding obesity such as prevention, treatment, research, nutrition and wellness, physical activity and our built environment.
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
|
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.
|
