38% of New York Women Live with Obesity, Yet Health Plans Fall Short on Covering Obesity Care

New York’s worsening obesity crisis  

Obesity rates are rising in New York, currently impacting 37% of New Yorkers and 38% of women in the state. What’s more, the chronic, treatable disease has a disproportionate impact on women of color –– 53% of Black women and 42% of Hispanic women in the state are living with obesity.   

Obesity is linked to over 200 other chronic health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and multiple types of cancer. As a women’s health issue, obesity presents unique health challenges specific to women, contributing to the development of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as fertility issues.  

current coverage landscape  

Despite the high prevalence of obesity in the Empire state, access to the full range of evidence-based comprehensive care –– including medical nutrition services, behavioral therapy, surgery, and obesity medications –– remains limited.  

• Only 20% of New Yorkers have health insurance plans that cover obesity medications.  

• New York Medicaid does not cover obesity medications, nutrition counseling or behavioral therapy, and metabolic and bariatric surgery are only covered with restrictions. 

• In October, New York City announced its decision to discontinue coverage for obesity medications for city employees, impacting nearly 1,000 city workers and their dependents who rely on coverage to access these medications. 

obesity’s financial impact 

New York is home to many of the nation’s top workplaces for women — including 7 named to the Fortune Best Workplaces for Women in 2023 — yet obesity continues to have a significant impact on the state’s economy, workforce and employers. Obesity reduced New York’s economic activity by $37.3 billion and increased employers’ healthcare costs by $3 billion in 2022. But the financial impact of obesity extends beyond employers –– nationally, women living with obesity earn 9% less than women without obesity. 

Covering the full range of care options for obesity is crucial to improve the well-being of people and communities across New York. Addressing obesity directly will foster healthier, more productive lives and build a stronger, more resilient workforce.