Why We Need to Stop Focusing on the Cost of Obesity Medications
I tried my best to stay professional for this episode, but I had to be honest—the whole conversation around the cost of obesity treatment is straight-up nonsense. It fires me up because, seriously, why are we still debating this? We don’t refuse treatment for heart attacks or cancer just because it’s expensive, so why should it be any different for obesity?
The idea that people should just be “responsible” for their weight and that we shouldn’t have to cover the cost of treatment is a tired, broken argument. People don’t get held to the same standard when it comes to other health issues, so why are we suddenly pointing fingers when it’s about obesity?
Here’s the thing: weight management is way more complex than assuming personal responsibility. Genetics, environment, mental health—they all play a role. If we want to get anywhere with tackling obesity, we need to stop obsessing over the cost and start looking at the bigger picture.
I've dropped some other key insights on this topic before, and the takeaway is simple: we need to rethink how we approach obesity management. If you’re ready to dive deeper and actually take control of your weight in a real, practical way, stick around—there’s plenty more to dig into.
Ending the Focus on Cost in Obesity Management
When it comes to the cost of managing conditions in the U.S., we don’t usually make healthcare decisions based solely on cost.
Take cancer, for example. If someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, no one says, “Sorry, we can’t treat you because it’s too expensive.” The same goes for someone who’s had a heart attack. We don’t just shrug and say, “Well, the treatment costs too much, so good luck.” Even in life support situations, we still provide care, even though it’s incredibly expensive. Why? Because we believe people deserve the best chance, and cost isn’t the main focus.
So why, when it comes to obesity, does everything revolve around cost? Is it because so many people have it, and the numbers make it feel overwhelming? Or is there bias at play where people think those with obesity don’t deserve the same care? Maybe we just don’t fully understand that obesity is a disease, just like heart disease or cancer.
It's time to stop letting cost control the conversation around obesity care. People deserve treatment, no matter what the numbers say.
Breaking the Blame Cycle
Another thing to consider is how much of this reluctance to manage obesity is rooted in bias. A lot of the resistance we see to addressing obesity—whether it’s from society, the government, or insurance companies—comes from blaming people for their weight. I think that’s a huge part of the issue. There’s this idea that because people are "responsible" for their weight, we shouldn't have to pay for their treatment.
But here’s the thing—I don’t buy that argument. We’ve moved past that mentality in almost every other area of healthcare. Even if someone makes a bad choice, like doing something reckless and breaking their leg, we treat that broken leg. We don’t look at the choices that led to the injury and say, “Well, you brought this on yourself, so no treatment for you.”
Whether or not someone's actions contributed to their condition isn’t a reason to deny care. We don’t do that for anything else, so even if you believe someone’s actions played a role in their weight, we shouldn’t use that as an excuse to withhold treatment.
The only example that comes close is the policy around liver transplants for people actively drinking alcohol. Yet, even that’s changing in many places because denying treatment isn’t always the right call. And let’s be real—a liver transplant is a huge, life-or-death procedure, and doctors want the best chance of success.
So, why are we applying this blame game to weight? Honestly, I think a lot of this stems from people not understanding that obesity is a disease. It’s not about being stingy with resources or being biased. The root of the problem is a lack of understanding.
We’ve talked about this before—why losing weight is so difficult. There are many factors at play: genetics, metabolism, hormones, environment. This is why managing obesity is necessary, and why we need to stop viewing it through the lens of blame or personal responsibility. It’s a complex disease, and like any other disease, it deserves proper care.
Moving Beyond Basic Lifestyle Changes
Once you’ve gained weight, losing it isn’t as simple as just cutting calories and working out more. Here’s why: when you try to lose weight, your metabolism slows down more than expected based on the weight you’ve lost. So, you end up burning fewer calories. At the same time, your appetite increases—you’re hungrier and feel less full after eating. This makes it hard to stick to a diet, and often, you hit a weight loss plateau or even gain the weight back because your body is trying to hold onto energy.
This is a big part of why obesity is so tough to manage. It’s not just about willpower or following the usual advice of “eat less, move more.” For many people with obesity, these strategies aren’t enough. They might need more serious interventions like medication, surgery, or intense behavioral therapy.
Let’s put this in perspective. If we want to prevent lung cancer, we tell people not to smoke and to check for radon. But if someone gets lung cancer, we don’t just tell them to quit smoking. They’ll need surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. The same goes for pneumonia. We use vaccines to prevent it, but if someone gets it, we treat them with antibiotics, not more vaccines.
Or think about car accidents. We promote safety measures like seatbelts and speed limits to prevent them. But if someone gets into an accident and breaks a leg, we don’t just say, “Well, you should’ve worn a seatbelt.” We treat the injury with a cast or surgery.
The point is, prevention and treatment are different things. With obesity, we’ve focused on prevention by promoting lifestyle changes, but managing it requires a different approach. We need to use the right treatments and interventions for those who need them.
It’s important to understand that managing obesity requires more than just following simple advice. We need to acknowledge that it’s a multifaceted issue and use effective treatments to manage it.
Shifting the Focus: Advocating for Fair Coverage in Obesity Management
It’s time to rethink how we handle obesity management and how it’s portrayed in the healthcare system. Why are we so fixated on the costs of managing obesity while other conditions get a pass on the same scrutiny?
One way to start changing this is through advocacy. If you’re passionate about fairness in obesity management, there are practical steps you can take. For example, in Colorado, there’s a chance to push for a bill next year that could make obesity medications more accessible through Medicare.
But it’s not just about Medicare. Even if you’re not personally affected, chances are someone you care about might be. Making these medications more available could really improve lives and might even lead to better coverage in other areas.
Let’s stop treating obesity as the odd-one-out in healthcare spending. Instead, let’s focus on comprehensive treatment options and push for policies that reflect this. Advocacy is a great first step towards change, and by taking action, we can work towards fairer treatment for all chronic conditions, including obesity.
If you’re ready to take action, the Obesity Action Coalition is a great resource. You can visit their website to find tools and information on how to advocate for better obesity treatment coverage.
We’ve highlighted why cost shouldn’t hinder obesity treatment and how to push for fairness. Get more in the latest episode. Appreciate your support—catch you next time!
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