Health care advocates develop first-ever 'Obesity Bill of Rights'

Advocates say those with obesity face stigmas and discrimination when trying to obtain health care, making it challenging to seek treatment.

Health care advocates introduced what they call the first-ever Obesity Bill of Rights with the hopes of changing workplace policies and state and federal laws. 

The Obesity Bill of Rights, which was published Wednesday by the National Consumers League and National Council on Aging, has the backing of 40 national obesity and chronic disease organizations and several lawmakers. 

There are eight tenets of the bill: The right to accurate, clear, trusted, and accessible information; the right to respect; the right to make treatment decisions; the right to treatment from qualified health providers; the right to person-centered care; the right to accessible obesity treatment from health systems; the right for older adults to receive quality obesity care; and the right to coverage for treatment. 

Advocates for the bill of rights say those with obesity face stigmas and numerous obstacles in accessing care. 

"Our goal with the Obesity Bill of Rights is to define quality obesity care as the right of all adults and empower those with the disease to ask questions and demand treatment without discrimination or bias regardless of their size or weight," said Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League. "For too long, adults with obesity have encountered a health care system that is working against them. They have been stigmatized, discriminated against, not treated with respect by their health providers, and have faced significant hurdles and burdensome requirements to receive obesity care."