A Shared Commitment to Heart Health and Obesity Care

This February, American Heart Month is a reminder that women’s heart health deserves better awareness, better care and better outcomes. 

More than 60 million women in the United States are living with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and it remains the leading cause of death for women. Despite its prevalence, CVD often isn’t treated like the threat that it is. Too many women experience misdiagnosis or overlooked symptoms. One of the strongest and most common risk factors is obesity – those living with obesity have 1.5 to 2 times greater risk of developing CVD. 

Although obesity is a chronic, treatable disease, many women are still unable to obtain insurance coverage for evidence-based care, leaving them at risk of developing diseases like CVD, diabetes and many types of cancer. When women living with obesity go without coverage, they are denied protection for their long-term heart health. Coverage of comprehensive obesity care is essential to the prevention and management of heart disease.  

We asked EveryBODY Covered campaign partners who advocate for heart health why coverage for obesity care matters to them and the communities they serve. Here’s what they had to say. 

Dr. Rachel Bond, MD, FACC, Co-Chair, Cardiovascular Disease in Women and Children Committee, Association of Black Cardiologists 

Erin Ferranti, PhD, MPH, RN, CDCES, FAHA, FPCNA, Board of Directors, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association 

Hyvelle Ferguson-Davis, Founder, Heart Sistas Inc. 

Celina Gorre, CEO, WomenHeart 

To join our partners in their efforts to protect women’s heart health through access to comprehensive obesity care, use EveryBODY Covered’s resource to become an obesity care advocate. Together, we can protect the health of our hearts, bodies and communities.