Disclosures

Washington, D.C. — Today, the American Security Project (ASP), the Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN), and over 70 national security, military, and public health stakeholders sent an open letter to United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urging immediate action to address rising rates of overweight and obesity across the U.S. Armed Forces.&nbsp;The health of America’s service members is indispensable to military readiness and national defense. Overweight and obesity are the leading causes of recruitment disqualification, as well as key drivers of early separation, injury, and serious adverse health events. As a result, rising rates of obesity among military personnel pose a direct threat to readiness, manpower, and the Armed Forces’ capacity to meet growing global threats.&nbsp;“Maintaining a force that is physically ready is not optional. Rising obesity rates undermine operational effectiveness, limit deployable manpower, and create vulnerabilities in our national defense posture,” said Brigadier General Allyson Solomon, MD ANG (Ret.), former commander of the Maryland Air National Guard. “Addressing these challenges through evidence-based prevention and treatment programs ensures that every service member has the tools and support to maintain peak readiness and meet the demands of their mission.”&nbsp;Despite increased awareness of this challenge, significant gaps remain in prevention, early intervention, treatment access, research, and education. In their letter, ASP, OCAN, and supporting signatories urge the Department of War to take concrete steps to ensure service members receive comprehensive, quality care that supports readiness during service and long-term health after transition to civilian life.&nbsp;The letter advocates for expanded obesity prevention measures through increased exercise opportunities and improved access to healthy foods, beginning with service-wide reviews of on-base nutrition environments. It also calls for early medical intervention when service members exceed weight standards; improved access to evidence-based treatments, including FDA-approved obesity medications; and the establishment of clear policy guidance to facilitate pharmacological care.&nbsp;"As a former Director of the Comprehensive Weight Management Program at Walter Reed and a Navy physician, I have seen firsthand how obesity affects the health and readiness of our force."&nbsp;said Dr. Richele Corrado, DO, MPH, a board-certified Internist and Obesity Medicine Specialist and co-champion of the 2025 VA/DoD Obesity Clinical Practice Guideline update.&nbsp;"Obesity is a chronic, biologically mediated disease that requires a comprehensive approach to care, underscoring the need for service-specific policies that formally recognize obesity as a disease and provide clear guidance for its evaluation and management among active-duty service members. Effective care should be centered on evidence-based lifestyle interventions, with pharmacotherapy considered when clinically appropriate, while acknowledging important gaps in evidence regarding the impact of obesity treatments on readiness, retention, attrition, and long-term costs."&nbsp;Additional recommendations include expanded research funding to assess obesity’s impact on readiness and the potential cost savings of various prevention and treatment strategies; increased education on the dangers of disordered eating and unapproved weight loss substances; and restoration of TRICARE coverage for obesity medications across the military community. The letter specifically calls for the reversal of recent cuts affecting TRICARE for Life beneficiaries and the reopening of provider networks for TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select.&nbsp;As the United States confronts an increasingly complex and demanding global security environment, ASP, OCAN, and fellow signatories emphasize that maintaining a healthy and resilient force is a strategic imperative. By ensuring access to comprehensive obesity prevention and evidence-based treatment, the Department of War can preserve military effectiveness and honor the nation’s commitment to those who serve.&nbsp;The full letter is available at: <a href="https://obesitycareadvocacynetwork.com/news/open-letter-from-the-american-security-project-asp-and-the-obesity-care-advocacy-network-ocan-to-united-states-secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth">https://obesitycareadvocacynetwork.com/news/open-letter-from-the-american-security-project-asp-and-the-obesity-care-advocacy-network-ocan-to-united-states-secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact:&nbsp;Tais DavisCoordinator, External Relations and DevelopmentAmerican Security Project202-347-3115<a href="mailto:tdavis@americansecurityproject.org">tdavis@americansecurityproject.org</a>www.americansecurityproject.org&nbsp;Caitlin BurnsCommunicationsObesity Care Advocacy Network<a href="mailto:press@obesitycareadvocacynetwork.com">press@obesitycareadvocacynetwork.com</a>www.obesitycareadvocacynetwork.com&nbsp;# # #

American Security Project and Obesity Care Advocacy Network Call on Secretary of War to Strengthen Evidence-Based Obesity Prevention and Treatment for U.S. Forces

ASP-OCAN Open Letter to Secretary Hegseth 2026.pdf

Open Letter from the American Security Project (ASP) and the Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) to United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to Strengthen Evidence-Based Obesity Prevention and Treatment for U.S. Forces

OCAN applauds the administration’s Launch of the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) pilot program, BALANCE, which will expand access to obesity treatments under Medicare and Medicaid."The launch of the CMMI BALANCE program represents a historic milestone in the fight against the obesity epidemic," said Cristy Gallagher, coordinator of OCAN. "By expanding access to evidence-based treatments, the administration is taking a meaningful step toward improving the quality of care for millions of Americans.For too long, barriers to treatment have prevented individuals from accessing the care they need. This demonstration program has the potential to transform obesity care nationwide by finally recognizing and treating obesity as the chronic, complex disease it is. We look forward to providing feedback to CMMI to improve and expand the program as the details are formalized.OCAN and its member organizations remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that life-saving obesity care is accessible to all. We thank the administration for its leadership and for advancing this critical mission to improve public health.”

OCAN applauds the administration’s Launch of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) pilot program, BALANCE, which will expand access to obesity treatments under Medicare and Medicaid.

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