October Obesity Coverage Watch: Obesity’s Toll on Hispanic Health & the Complex Intersection Between Obesity and PCOS

Hispanic Heritage Month: Obesity Care Coverage Restrictions Negatively Impacting Hispanic Health

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Dr. Veronica Vital, president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), highlights the particular impacts of obesity on Hispanic health in a new blog post, noting that 43% of Hispanic women are affected by this chronic disease. Dr. Vital reminds us of why barriers to comprehensive obesity care must be eliminated to support Hispanic communities across the country:

• Obesity is not just a medical issue; it is a deeply social, cultural and economic issue as well. Many Hispanic families face limited access to safe spaces for exercise, culturally appropriate nutrition education and affordable healthy foods which contribute to these disparities.
• When evidence-based treatments are not available, the consequences ripple through entire families and communities. Patients are left with managing a complex and chronic disease without the tools or resources they need, resulting in worsened health outcomes, increased disability and greater economic instability.
• Employers, policymakers and formulary decisionmakers need to recognize that obesity is the root cause of many comorbidities. Covering evidence-based treatments offers a significant offset of costs to the entire healthcare system by preventing downstream complications and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for people living with obesity.

You can read the full Q&A with Dr. Vital here.

Spotlight on PCOS: More Evidence That Obesity is a Women’s Health Issue

Obesity is a serious, chronic disease associated with over 200 health complications, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—further underscoring how coverage of comprehensive obesity care can improve the health of women managing multiple chronic conditions. Here’s what you need to know:

•  the facts: PCOS is a hormonal imbalance in which a woman’s ovaries produce unusually high levels of hormones called androgens. It is a lifelong condition impacting 1 in 10 women, and as many as 80% of those diagnosed also struggle with obesity. While the exact link between PCOS and obesity is still unknown, women with PCOS often produce too much insulin or the insulin they produce does not work as it should—which contributes to weight gain or issues with losing weight.
• the challenge: Both conditions are often stigmatized and misdiagnosed—with women stating that they feel underserved and face bias from their healthcare providers throughout their diagnosis and coverage journey. Together, this can create a vicious cycle of metabolic and hormonal imbalance that can significantly impact fertility, quality of life, mental health and long-term risk of other health complications.
• the impact: Women who live with these conditions must navigate a healthcare system that is often confusing and demoralizing.
  • For instance, Cassie—an EveryBODY Covered advocate and working mom in West Virgina who is living with obesity and PCOS—has used obesity management medications to improve her health. She’s also experienced losing insurance coverage for this care, the stigma associated with these conditions and how access to care can impact someone’s life in very meaningful ways.

If you’re interested in speaking with Cassie or other advocates living with obesity, please contact us at info@everybodycovered.org.

The EveryBODY Covered campaign is a program of the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention. Support for the EveryBODY Covered campaign has been provided by Eli Lilly & Company.