Help Us Increase Access to Obesity Treatment

This Women's Health Month, ensure your voter registration is up to date.

HealthyWomen Editors

The editorial team and staff of HealthyWomen.

Kim Ledgerwood

Editorial Director, HealthyWomen

As HealthyWomen’s editorial director, Kim oversees the production of all content and ensures that it is aligned with our mission, meets our high editorial standards and captures our brand voice.

Kim is an award-winning editor and copywriter with more than 25 years of experience. She started her career as a copywriter and broadcast producer at the Southeast’s largest full-service advertising agency, The Tombras Group. Since then, she has edited and written for a wide variety of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to indie authors across multiple industries and topics.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as well as a master’s degree in communications/advertising from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Kim lives in Maryland with her husband, three children and a menagerie of pets.

Jacquelyne Froeber

Senior Editor, HealthyWomen

Jacquelyne Froeber is an award-winning journalist and editor. She holds a BA in journalism from Michigan State University. She is the former editor-in-chief of Celebrated Living magazine and has editing and writing experience for print and online publications, including Health magazine, Coastal Living magazine and AARP.org.

As a breast cancer survivor, Jacquelyne encourages everyone to perform self-exams and get their yearly mammograms.

Full Bio

Obesity is a chronic disease that increases risk of other serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers. With 4 out of 10 American adults living with obesity, access to and insurance coverage for treatment options are essential.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating obesity, and luckily, there are several FDA-approved medication options available today that work alongside diet and exercise programs, surgery and psychotherapy.

Unfortunately, not everyone is able to get access to these medication options through their health insurance, which limits their ability to get the treatment they need to improve their health outcomes.

Watch: Congressional Briefing: Ensuring Patient Access to Effective Treatments for Obesity >>

Watch: Congressional Briefing – Obesity: The Cost of No Coverage >>

Act Now

Currently, a rule change has been proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would expand coverage for anti-obesity medications under Medicare and Medicaid. The rule was met with widespread support during a public comment period, and CMS is currently reviewing the comments. The finalized rule is expected in April.

HealthyWomen is working with advocacy groups to push for the rule change to expand coverage of and access to anti-obesity medications, and you can help.

Use the Obesity Action Coalition’s advocacy tool to send a letter to the Trump administration urging them to support the proposed rule change.