Recognizing the need of Congress to prevent, address, and treat obesity as a disease in the United States on this World Obesity Day, March 4, 2025.
H. Res. 185 is a nonbinding House resolution introduced on World Obesity Day, March 4, 2025, recognizing obesity as a disease and urging Congress and the public to prevent, address, and treat it. The resolution notes obesity as a complex, multifactorial condition influenced by genetic, environmental, behavioral, and social determinants, and it highlights the substantial health risks and economic costs associated with obesity. It calls for categorizing obesity as a disease to help reduce related health risks and supports health care providers and researchers in developing evidence-based prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. The measure is sponsored by Representative Cherfilus-McCormick (with Rep. Moore of Wisconsin) and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce; it does not establish new programs or funding. In essence, the bill is a symbolic statement of congressional support aimed at shifting the framing of obesity in policy and health care discussions. It emphasizes the need to address disparities, stigma, and access barriers while encouraging evidence-based approaches to reduce obesity-related disease and costs.
Key Points
- 1Obesity is described as a complex, multifactorial disease, arising from genetic, environmental, behavioral, and social determinants that affect both children and adults.
- 2The resolution outlines obesity’s broad health risks and comorbidities (including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, cancer, sleep apnea, mental illness, and more) and cites substantial medical and indirect costs, noting rising direct health costs and productivity losses.
- 3It highlights disparities in obesity prevalence (by race/ethnicity, income, and rural vs. urban areas) and acknowledges stigma and coverage barriers that people with obesity often face.
- 4The House expresses the urgent need to prevent, treat, and address obesity as a disease on World Obesity Day and supports categorizing obesity as a disease to help reduce risk of related health problems.
- 5It calls on health care providers and researchers to develop and promote evidence-based strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity; the measure is a nonbinding resolution and does not authorize new programs or funding.