obesity matters policy roundtable: breaking barriers to obesity treatment and acceptance

last summer, advocacy group obesity matters convened a policy roundtable that comprised a multidisciplinary panel of experts, including those from health institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, dietitians, the food industry and researchers. the primary objective was to address the barriers to access and reimbursement for obesity treatment, specifically in ontario, but also for the rest of the country.

since nearly two in three adults and one in three children and youth are overweight or living with obesity in this country, according to the public health agency of canada , and related health problems cost the health care system more than $7 billion annually and rising, addressing the issue with concrete proposals is all the more vital.

evolution and access to obesity treatments

science has finally recognized that obesity is a chronic, progressive disease and weight has more to do with genetics and environmental factors than a person’s willpower. in fact, 70 to 80 per cent of our body mass index is determined by our genes, most of them centred in the brain, according to obesity canada . the hypothalamus region of the brain regulates energy intake and expenditure. when it is disrupted due to biological or environmental factors, feelings of hunger and fullness are affected.

but now there are effective anti-obesity medications, such as wegovy and, with imminent approval, mounjaro , to treat the condition by decreasing hunger, dampening cravings and slowing stomach emptying. average weight loss on these drugs, in combination with lifestyle changes, has shown to be about 15 per cent of body weight. but wegovy costs close to $5,000 a year and mounjaro will likely be more than $1,000 “per fill,” which is out of reach for many people since provincial health plans do not usually cover these medications.

for example, in its report card on access to obesity care , obesity canada surveyed 9.6 million canadians with private insurance and found only 10 per cent of plans covered anti-obesity medications. the roundtable discussed private payers’ fear of exploding costs, and the need for evidence that proves these obesity treatments also translate into improvements in weight-related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea.

“in ontario, we have the 2020 to 2023 chronic disease prevention strategy , which addresses the complications of obesity, such as diabetes, but there’s still no official guidelines or policies for obesity treatment and management in any of the provinces or territories,” says chawla, who adds that obesity matters aims to create a policy framework to align efforts with those ontario chronic disease prevention strategies.

obesity education, awareness and initiatives

healthcare professionals who are trained on how to treat obesity

but even with medication, a healthy lifestyle is important in preventing and managing obesity, which is why obesity matters organized a 12-month virtual wellness workshop to bring the community together through expert-led sessions and personalized solutions.

how the media sees obesity

what’s next for obesity?