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The Truth About Compounded GLP-1 Drugs
Read More: The Truth About Compounded GLP-1 DrugsGLP-1 medications are everywhere these days — especially online. A quick scroll through social media can bring up a wide range of companies and influencers touting the benefits of GLP-1 drugs, and women tend to be the target audience. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found most of the posts about…
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The Importance of Exercise and Nutrition While Using a GLP-1
Read More: The Importance of Exercise and Nutrition While Using a GLP-1GLP-1 medications for weight loss are having their moment — and for good reason. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. They include brand names you may be familiar with like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. GLP-1s were originally designed to help people with Type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. But they are now approved…
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Healthy Aging When You’re Living with Obesity
Read More: Healthy Aging When You’re Living with Obesity+ Infographic text If you’re living with the disease of obesity, it’s important to be mindful of your health. Obesity gets harder to manage as we age. Why? Metabolism Muscle quality Strength Bone density All decline with age Obesity symptoms get worse with age Breathing problems Fatigue Weight gain Joint pain Sexual dysfunction Mental health…
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The Skinny on Microdosing GLP-1 Drugs
Read More: The Skinny on Microdosing GLP-1 DrugsMarch 3 -7, 2025, is Obesity Care Week. The term “microdosing” probably makes you think of psychedelic drugs — us too. But the latest trend in microdosing involves taking small amounts of the popular weight-loss medications known as GLP-1s. GLP-1 drugs have revolutionized the way we treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity. The injectable medications…
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Turning 65 and Getting on Medicare? You Could Lose Coverage for Obesity Care
Read More: Turning 65 and Getting on Medicare? You Could Lose Coverage for Obesity CareFor millions of people living with obesity, the class of weight-loss medications known as GLP-1 agonists have been game-changers (think Wegovy and Zepbound). Studies show that people on these medications can lose more weight than they can with just lifestyle changes alone. But for one group of Americans — people on Medicare — at least…
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Webinar: Advancing Employee Wellness and Access for Women Living with Obesity
Read More: Webinar: Advancing Employee Wellness and Access for Women Living with ObesityPresentation Slides Obesity is a chronic disease that’s linked to over 200 other serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers. Women deserve access to the full continuum of treatment options for obesity. Watch as our experts explain the science of obesity as a chronic disease and why expanded coverage for…
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Is the BMI BS?
Read More: Is the BMI BS?Are we saying goodbye to BMI? Body mass index (BMI) — the measure of body fat based on height and weight — has been around for decades. For years, your BMI has been used to determine whether you’re in a “healthy” weight range based on guidelines set by the World Health Organization. Since it was…
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The Importance of Making Obesity Treatment Accessible
Read More: The Importance of Making Obesity Treatment AccessibleIt’s always a successful day at the office for Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., M.P.H.,M.P.A., when she can look at a patient’s chart, see a diagnosis of diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension, and see progress in their health or resolution of a health concern. Shanna Tucker, M.D., an obesity medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health, has…
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Is Obesity a Disease? Yes — and the Medical Community Is Finally Recognizing That
Read More: Is Obesity a Disease? Yes — and the Medical Community Is Finally Recognizing ThatMichelle,* a 42-year-old mother of two, has been living with overweight or obesity her entire life. Around third grade, Michelle said she remembers a shift in her parents’ attitude toward her eating habits: They went from bribing or forcing her to eat to questioning whether she really needed seconds. Her mother, though smaller than Michelle,…
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Thanks to TikTok, I Was Able to Afford the Anti-Obesity Medication That Changed My Life
Read More: Thanks to TikTok, I Was Able to Afford the Anti-Obesity Medication That Changed My LifeAs told to Jacquelyne Froeber When my sister turned 13, I bought her a ring that said, “I hope you dance.” I cried the first time I heard that song. The lyrics said everything I wanted for my sister. I want her to be confident and strong. I want her to take chances and live…
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With Obesity on the Rise, Why Are Treatments So Hard to Get?
Read More: With Obesity on the Rise, Why Are Treatments So Hard to Get?When Oprah Winfrey announced in late 2023 that she’s taking weight-loss medication, it raised a lot of questions: Which drug is she taking? How long will she take it? What role should medicines play in reducing obesity? How to pay for the drug was not likely a concern for the billionaire media mogul. But for…
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Anti-Obesity Medications Are All the Buzz
Read More: Anti-Obesity Medications Are All the BuzzMedically reviewed by Holly Lofton, M.D. Until recently, obesity was thought of as a lifestyle choice, but it’s actually a chronic, complex disease. And many people living with obesity need treatment options to help manage it. By now, you’ve probably heard of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) on the news or by following Oprah on social media.…
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How to Support a Loved One Living with Obesity
Read More: How to Support a Loved One Living with ObesityMarch 4-8, 2024, is Obesity Care Week. Obesity can be a tough topic to talk about. Although more than 2 out of 5 people in the U.S. are living with obesity, stigma and weight bias — negative thoughts and actions toward a person based on their weight — are still very much part of the…
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Anti-Obesity Medication Stopped My Obsessive Thoughts About Food and Helped Me Become a Stronger Woman
Read More: Anti-Obesity Medication Stopped My Obsessive Thoughts About Food and Helped Me Become a Stronger WomanAs told to Jacquelyne Froeber March 4-8, 2024, is Obesity Care Week. “If I don’t get food in the next two minutes, I’m going to die.” This is how my brain works. Every day, at various points throughout the day, panic seeps into my thoughts and consumes me. I think of nothing else but food.…
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How to Talk About Obesity and Obesity-Related Insurance Coverage at Work
Read More: How to Talk About Obesity and Obesity-Related Insurance Coverage at WorkEspañol Obesity is so common in the United States that nearly half (4 out of 10) American adults live with the disease, which can pose serious health risks and lead to premature death. Many people living with obesity face discrimination or poor treatment in the workplace. Employers can help reduce stigma, improve working environments for…
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Cómo hablar de la obesidad y de su correspondiente cobertura del seguro en el trabajo
Read More: Cómo hablar de la obesidad y de su correspondiente cobertura del seguro en el trabajoLa obesidad es tan común en Estados Unidos que casi la mitad (4 de cada 10) adultos estadounidenses viven con la enfermedad, lo que implica riesgos médicos graves y puede causar muertes prematuras. Muchas personas que viven con obesidad enfrentan discriminación o malos tratos en el lugar de trabajo. Los empleadores pueden ayudar a reducir…
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Choosing Health Insurance Coverage If You’re Living with Obesity
Read More: Choosing Health Insurance Coverage If You’re Living with Obesity+ PDF text SLIDE 1 Living with Obesity? Quick tips for how to navigate health insurance coverage for obesity care SLIDE 2 Obesity is a disease that affects 4 out of 10 American adults. Medication, surgery, diet and exercise programs, and working with mental health professionals can help people lose weight but can be expensive.…
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Looking for Health Insurance and Want to Know if Obesity Treatments Are Covered?
Read More: Looking for Health Insurance and Want to Know if Obesity Treatments Are Covered?Are you living with obesity and wondering how to make sure you get the care you need and deserve? If you need health insurance for 2024, ask your benefits manager or representative these questions to make sure you choose the best coverage for you. This educational resource was created with support from Eli Lilly and…
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Health Insurance 101: How to Choose Health Insurance When You’re Living with Obesity
Read More: Health Insurance 101: How to Choose Health Insurance When You’re Living with ObesityApproximately 4 out of 10 American adults live with obesity, a medical condition that can cause serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. There are treatments, like weight loss medications and surgery, that can help, but they can also be expensive. For example, medication prescribed for weight loss can cost around $1,000…
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Covid and Obesity: How to Reduce Risk Factors
Read More: Covid and Obesity: How to Reduce Risk FactorsEspañol Even before Covid-19 reset life as we know it, I struggled with taming my sweet tooth and staying motivated to go to the gym as often as I should. Once the pandemic shutdowns arrived, I cocooned with my husband, our college-aged son and our three cats. While I was lucky to be able to…
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The Rise of Obesity Among Latinx People
Read More: The Rise of Obesity Among Latinx PeopleObesity is a disease with complex causes — and culture and socioeconomic status can play a significant role. This is especially true in the Latinx community in the U.S., where nearly 8 out of 10 Hispanic women are living with obesity or overweight. And 1 in 4 Hispanic children between the ages of 6 and…
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La intersección entre el covid-19 persistente y la obesidad
Read More: La intersección entre el covid-19 persistente y la obesidadMike Myint, M.D., MBA, hizo la revisión médica de este documento ¿Qué es el covid-19 persistente? El covid-19 persistente, a veces denominado secuelas del covid-19, es cuando los síntomas del covid-19 duran 4 semanas o más a partir de la infección inicial. Casi 1 de cada 3 personas que se contagian de covid-19 reportan tener…
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La obesidad, el racismo y el covid-19: Una combinación mortal
Read More: La obesidad, el racismo y el covid-19: Una combinación mortalDurante los primeros días de la pandemia del covid-19, las personas que tenían más probabilidades de ser hospitalizadas o de morir por el virus tenían algunas cosas en común. La edad era el mayor factor de riesgo par enfermarse gravemente de covid-19. La raza y la etnia también parecían tener una conexión, puesto que las…
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Obesity, Racism and Covid: A Deadly Combination
Read More: Obesity, Racism and Covid: A Deadly CombinationIn the earliest days of the Covid pandemic, the people who were most likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus had a few things in common. Age was the greatest risk factor for becoming very sick with Covid. Race and ethnicity also seemed to have a connection, as Covid deaths were higher among…
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Obesity Puts You at Higher Risk for Severe Illness from Covid-19
Read More: Obesity Puts You at Higher Risk for Severe Illness from Covid-19Anne Dixon, a lung specialist in Vermont, vividly remembers the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, recalling a particularly upsetting patient death. “We had someone who was very young, had obesity and died from Covid. It was quite devastating,” said Dixon, professor of medicine at the University of Vermont Medical Center. It was a wake-up…
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Living With Obesity as You Age
Read More: Living With Obesity as You AgeMedically reviewed by Kelynne J. Oristel, R.N., GNP, APRN, Ph.D. (hon.) Aging is the biggest risk factor for heart attacks, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other chronic health conditions. And obesity can make the aging process happen faster. That puts women who are living with obesity or overweight at even higher risk for mental and physical…
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Obesity Throughout Different Life Stages
Read More: Obesity Throughout Different Life StagesObesity can affect our bodies differently as we age. While excess weight can negatively affect health at any age, obesity in midlife and beyond can speed up the aging process, leading to worse mental and physical health outcomes for many women. For instance, living with obesity can harm your mental health and increase depression. It…
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The Risks of Obesity During and After Pregnancy
Read More: The Risks of Obesity During and After PregnancyShannon,* a mom of two now in her 40s, found some emotional challenges in dealing with the disease of obesity during her pregnancies, such as grieving for her lack of a “cute” baby bump. “Nobody can tell you’re pregnant … this was sad to me,” Shannon said. “I see thin women and all their cute…
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New Anti-Obesity Medications Are More Effective With Fewer Side Effects
Read More: New Anti-Obesity Medications Are More Effective With Fewer Side EffectsFor many people living with obesity, managing the disease will include a treatment plan that incorporates different tools at different stages in their weight journey. Take Michele Tedder, for example. Two years after initial success through weight loss surgery, Tedder, senior program manager at Black Women’s Health Initiative and founder of Bariatrically Blessed, realized that…
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Changing How We Talk About Obesity — A Conversation With Dr. Sowa
Read More: Changing How We Talk About Obesity — A Conversation With Dr. SowaConversations about obesity can be tricky for both healthcare providers (HCPs) and those seeking treatment for weight and obesity health concerns. Some women feel that their HCP uses language that implies judgment, while others may feel that their HCP doesn’t give them enough information to manage their weight. We reached out to Alexandra Sowa, M.D.…
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Obesity Is a Complex Disease With a Variety of Treatments
Read More: Obesity Is a Complex Disease With a Variety of TreatmentsMedically reviewed by Dr. Holly Lofton
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Cardiovascular disease, Chronic conditions, Heart disease, Heart health, Nutrition, Obesity, Preventive health, Weight management
Beer and Spirits Have More Detrimental Effects on the Waistline and on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Than Red or White Wine
Read More: Beer and Spirits Have More Detrimental Effects on the Waistline and on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Than Red or White WineBy Brittany Larsen, Iowa State University The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Drinking beer and spirits is linked to elevated levels of visceral fat – the harmful type of fat that is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and other health complications –…
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Obesity Among Black Women: Fighting the Disease Through Community
Read More: Obesity Among Black Women: Fighting the Disease Through CommunityApril is National Minority Health Month. For Michele Tedder, fighting obesity has been a lifelong journey. Despite years of trying numerous diets and exercise fads, Tedder’s weight continued to rise, surpassing 300 pounds on her 5-foot-1 frame. After developing high blood pressure, joint pain and Type 2 diabetes, she decided to pursue weight loss surgery.…
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Breast cancer, cancer, Clinical trials, Diabetes, Medical research and clinical trials, Obesity, Racial disparities
New Insights From Biology Can Help Overcome Siloed Thinking in Cancer Clinical Trials and Treatment
Read More: New Insights From Biology Can Help Overcome Siloed Thinking in Cancer Clinical Trials and TreatmentBy Gerald Denis, Boston University Rarely does an oncologist closely question a breast cancer patient about their blood glucose, body weight, lipid profile, or medications for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Instead, these issues are usually the concern of the patient’s primary care provider. Medical experts have recognized that obesity, defined as a body mass index…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Diabetes, Health disparities, Heart disease, Obesity, Prevention, Preventive health, Racial disparities
How the Pandemic’s Unequal Toll on People of Color Underlines US Health Inequities – and Why Solving Them Is so Critical
Read More: How the Pandemic’s Unequal Toll on People of Color Underlines US Health Inequities – and Why Solving Them Is so CriticalBy Abubakarr Jalloh, Hollins University From the earliest days of the pandemic, COVID-19 has wrought a far higher toll in communities of color than in the general population – thrusting the long-standing issue of health disparities in the U.S. into the attention of public health officials and the general public. Even though non-Hispanic white people…
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Want Fries — or Feelings — With That?
Read More: Want Fries — or Feelings — With That?While her infant daughter fought a neurological disorder in the hospital, Gabrielle Blawas fought a battle in her own head, sitting in her car in a fast-food parking lot. Fear for her daughter’s health steered Blawas straight to the fast-food restaurant after each hospital visit, where she ordered two full meals and ate them alone…
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Sugar High
Read More: Sugar HighA couple months ago, Neely Stasik was walking down the street in Chicago when she ran into a few friends she hadn’t seen in years. They were dying to know: Did she still consume crazy amounts of sugar like she did in college? “In my 20s and into my 30s I was eating candy all…
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Chronic conditions, exercise, Healthy Eating, Nutrition, Obesity, Real women real stories, Weight Loss, Weight management
I Fought Generational Obesity by Creating My Own Road Map to a Healthier, Happier Life
Read More: I Fought Generational Obesity by Creating My Own Road Map to a Healthier, Happier LifeAs told to Marnie Goodfriend I can’t recall a single childhood memory that wasn’t affected by obesity. As a 101-pound kindergartener, I remember my mom being upset when my school sent home one of those little school pictures with my weight underneath it, and I was the only child whose weight had three digits in…
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cancer, Cardiovascular disease, Chronic conditions, Diabetes, Heart disease, Heart health, Obesity, sleep, Weight management
Obesity and Other Health Conditions
Read More: Obesity and Other Health ConditionsDesign: Megan Schofield Medically reviewed by Dr. Alexandra Sowa
