Raising All Voices for Obesity Care This Minority Health Month

Minority Health Month is an important time for all of us to underscore our commitment to closing persistent health disparities that impact communities of color—including obesity. The EveryBODY Covered campaign is advocating for comprehensive obesity care coverage as a fairness and equity issue for women across the U.S. 

Obesity has a significant impact on women of color, affecting 57% of Black women and 43% of Hispanic women. The disease is also connected to a range of other chronic health complications, many of which have a higher incidence in communities of color, such as breast and ovarian cancers as well as diabetes. In addition to a disproportionate burden of disease, these communities experience increased barriers to services, poor quality of care from providers, and challenges accessing insurance coverage, all of which contribute to worse health outcomes—particularly for patients living with obesity. 

More work is needed to ensure equity in patients’ ability to access obesity care. This Minority Health Month, hear from EveryBODY Covered campaign partners about how advocating for obesity care coverage can help reduce health disparities:  

“The EveryBODY Covered campaign seeks to address the unfair gaps in obesity care coverage compared to other chronic diseases. Women of color are disproportionately affected by obesity, and we are committed to ensuring they have access to the full range of comprehensive obesity care options. This Minority Health Month, we remind ourselves of why we are working to support women, especially women of color, in the fight for obesity care.”  

-Millicent Gorham, PhD (Hon), MBA, FAAN, CEO, Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention

“Minority Health Month is an important time to recognize the outsized health challenges faced by women of color. We know that women are slightly more affected by obesity, and obesity and heart disease are closely linked. So, barriers to accessing the entire array of obesity treatment and care options seriously compromises women’s heart health. As we strive to improve the lives of women with or at risk for heart disease, WomenHeart continues to fight for equity in obesity care for all, this month and beyond.”

-Celina Gorre, MPH, MPA, CEO, WomenHeart

“Minority Health Month is an opportunity to recognize the challenges patients of color face from obesity, and the importance of supporting practitioners from diverse communities in their ability to provide the best care possible. Ensuring broad access to evidence-based obesity care options is one way we can help advance equity for those living with this chronic disease. AMWA is proud to be a leader in advocating for equity in health care, for the good of our patients and the country.” 

-Dr. Eliza Chin, MD, MPH, Executive Director, American Medical Women’s Association

“Minority Health Month shines a national lens on our daily mission to advance health equity for Black women, who continue to face disproportionate impacts from diseases like obesity. BWHI and our partners are deeply committed to saving and extending the lives of Black women and those most affected by health disparities. Improving coverage for obesity care is a critical part of this work.”

-Michele Tedder, MSN, RN, Senior Program Manager, Black Women’s Health Imperative 

Comprehensive obesity care is an important part of women’s health, and everybody deserves coverage, regardless of their race and ethnicity. EveryBODY Covered is proud to raise the voices of all women to advocate for coverage. Share your experience with obesity and why obesity care coverage is important to you here.