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Biden-Harris Administration Takes Latest Step to Lower Prescription Drug Costs by Proposing Expanded Coverage of Anti-Obesity Medications for Americans with Medicare and Medicaid. (www.whitehouse.gov)

submitted 1 day ago by Joker@sh.itjust.works to c/usa@midwest.social

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Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is proposing a new rule to significantly expand coverage of anti-obesity medications for Americans with Medicare and Medicaid. Tens of millions of Americans struggle with obesity. An estimated 42 percent of the U.S. population has obesity, which is now widely recognized as a chronic disease, with increased risk of all-cause mortality and multiple related comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, some cancers, and more.

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[–] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (3 children)

How would you address the problem without rewriting the constitution? You can't force people to eat healthier or force companies to sell healthier food.

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The FDA could be more strict about banning harmful ingredients. The US allows far more chemical additives than Western Europe.

[–] something_random_tho@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago

That sounds great. Let’s do that too!

[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

as we've been reminded this month, public opinion can be molded in literally any way shape or form by people who have the means. even if it's something ridiculous.

but again: why bother if you can just sell more pills?

[–] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

Public opinion has been molded by decades of marketing from food companies. It's much harder to undo beliefs once they are set.

[–] greyfox@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

A truth in marketing law could probably help a little and be easy enough to pass.

Make them show the real product in the advertisements not a fake version meant to entice you.

Along those same lines it would probably be possible to limit those ads in the first place. The human brain is quite susceptible to propaganda and ads are just one of capitalism's versions of that. Cut the ads and suddenly you have a lot less people being reminded constantly and programmed to consume.

Or classify those foods like alcohol/tobacco and put sin taxes on them.

[–] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

A truth in marketing law would likely fail free speech tests. Sin taxes on food can work, but they REALLY piss people off. A lot of politicians have lost their careers to sugar taxes.

[–] greyfox@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

Yeah not saying any of this would be likely, just that the options are there.

Not sure that I agree that it would fall under free speech if it can clearly be shown to be false advertising. Current courts certainly wouldn't let that happen but we can dream.