The Financial Times has a rare non-paywall opinion piece on how to make America healthy again. Here is a summary followed by the link to the original article:
The article highlights the rapid success of new anti-obesity medications as clear evidence that obesity is primarily driven by biology—not lifestyle choices alone. These weight-loss drugs challenge the outdated notion that obesity results from a lack of discipline. They show that medical intervention is often necessary—not optional—for many.
Recognizing obesity as a biological condition includes: Expanding access to medications like GLP-1 agonists and integrating drug treatment into comprehensive strategies that also address diet, exercise, environment, and social factors.
The article urges policies to: Ensure affordability and insurance coverage and reduce disparities, especially among low-income and marginalized groups affected disproportionately by obesity.
Investing in medical treatment and equitable distribution can reduce long-term health costs by preventing obesity-related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
Link: https://www.ft.com/content/e211bed7-953f-4ec9-9790-d9efef634bfa
