Official Summaries

This resolution supports the urgent need to prevent, treat, and address obesity as a disease on World Obesity Day.

Current Full Text

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 185 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 185

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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2025

   Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick (for herself and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
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.

Whereas obesity is a complex and multifactorial condition caused by genetic, 
        environmental, behavioral, and other social determinants of health 
        affecting both children and adults;
Whereas obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, contributing to a 
        myriad of health issues and impacting the well-being of individuals;
Whereas obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing coronary 
        artery disease, hypertension, high LDL cholesterol, low LDL cholesterol, 
        dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, stroke, 
        gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, cancer, mental 
        illness, body pain, dementia, asthma, and over 200 others and other 
        types of neurodivergent diseases, respiratory tract infections, and 
        infertility and loss of pregnancy for women;
Whereas the costs come from treating obesity and its associated comorbidities 
        are increasing, it is estimated that the annual medical cost of obesity 
        was nearly $173 billion dollars in 2019, while medical costs were found 
        to be $1,861 higher for those with obesity compared to patients at a 
        normal weight;
Whereas the United States Government spends approximately $283 billion on 
        obesity-related direct health costs in 2023, rising to $526.5 billion by 
        2033;
Whereas the indirect costs of obesity on the economy are the productivity costs 
        included and presenteeism, as well as premature mortality, loss of 
        quality adjusted life years, and higher rates of disability benefit 
        payments;
Whereas obesity continues to have a strong impact on the global economy, the 
        total costs of obesity are estimated to range from 0.05 percent to 2.24 
        percent of a country's gross domestic product, and the World Obesity 
        Federation estimates that the global economic impact of obesity will 
        surpass $4 trillion by 2035;
Whereas researchers have estimated that by 2030, if obesity trends continue 
        unchecked, obesity-related medical costs alone could rise by $48 to $66 
        billion a year in the United States;
Whereas obesity-related conditions are among the leading causes of preventable 
        and premature death in the United States;
Whereas over 42 percent of adults in the United States and over 19 percent of 
        children and adolescents in the United States are considered obese 
        according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Whereas Black-American adults have the highest rates of obesity at 49.9 percent 
        followed by American Indian and Alaska Native adults at 48 percent, 
        Hispanic and Latino Americans at 45.6 percent, White-American adults at 
        41.4 percent, and Asian-American adults at 16.1 percent;
Whereas children living in families with low incomes are 2.31 times more likely 
        to develop childhood obesity compared to children living in higher 
        income households;
Whereas rural populations are significantly more likely to be obese than people 
        living in urban counties; and
Whereas individuals with obesity often face stigma, discrimination, and coverage 
        barriers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the urgent need to prevent, treat, and address 
        obesity as a disease on this World Obesity Day;
            (2) recognizes the need to categorize obesity as a disease 
        to reduce the risk of other diseases and related comorbidities.
            (3) understands that genetic, environmental, behavioral 
        factors, and the social determinants of health contribute to 
        obesity; and
            (4) encourages health care providers and researchers to 
        develop evidence-based strategies for the prevention, 
        diagnosis, and treatment of obesity.
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