Obesity Action Coalition Blog

A recent Parade article discussed obese/morbidly obese airline passengers having to purchase an additional ticket due to their size and weight. The article discusses the rule from the airline’s point of view, but does not offer an obese person’s side of the story. Click here to view the article.

What are your feelings on this new rule?

As you may know, the OAC held several major events on Capitol Hill last week such as a special legislative briefing on our country’s growing obesity epidemic and the Walk from Obesity – Walk on the Capitol which drew nearly 3,000 advocates to Capitol Hill and the National Mall. In addition, many OAC Board and Advisory Board members visited members of Congress.  You can help build upon our success this month by going to the OAC’s Legislative Action Center and sending a pre-prepared message to your elected officials. On the House side, we’re trying to eliminate a number of roadblocks that continue to impede access to bariatric surgery for morbidly obese Medicare beneficiaries and support a resolution urging more action in regards to obesity. While on the Senate side, we’re asking Senators to light a fire under the Department of Health and Human Services to encourage NIH to update their decade-old treatment guidelines on obesity.  Your voice on these issues is important.  Please click on the link below to be taken directly to the OAC’s Legislative Action Center and be sure to access each of the chamber-specific alerts. Thank you for your continuing efforts.  

Click here to start advocating today!

In what was the largest gathering in the history of those affected by obesity, thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on June 17 to raise awareness of the disease of obesity.

Attendees traveled from all over the world to join in the Walk on the Capitol. Ranging from the United States to Australia, everyone in attendance represented one voice, one cause – the disease of obesity. In addition, Caitlin VanZandt, television star of Guiding Light and The Sopranos, was featured as the guest speaker for the event. Caitlin discussed her own battle with obesity and expressed a deep and true concern for those affected by the disease.

For more details, click here.

As you may know, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is holding several major events on Capitol this week such as the Walk from Obesity – Walk on the Capitol and a special legislative briefing on our country’s growing obesity epidemic, which could draw as many as two thousand advocates to Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Many of these individuals will be visiting with their representatives and senators in Congress to talk about obesity and how this disease is impacting them and our country.You can help bolster their efforts this month by going to the OAC’s Legislative Action Center and sending a pre-prepared message to each chamber of Congress.On the House side, we’re trying to eliminate a number of roadblocks that continue to impede access to bariatric surgery for morbidly obese Medicare beneficiaries. Please click on the link below to be taken directly to the OAC’s Legislative Action Center and be sure to access each of the chamber-specific alerts. Thank you for your continuing efforts.