New Studies Show Need for Expanding Access to Child and Adult Nutrition Programs
The Bipartisan Policy Center recently released two new reports on expanding access to obesity treatment for older adults and another that focuses on strengthening child nutrition programs.
The first report, which focuses on older adults, explores what would be required for policymakers to expand access to obesity treatments in public insurance programs, specifically Medicare. It then presents a systematic review of all evidence-based obesity treatments not currently covered by Medicare.
The review identifies five pharmaceuticals approved by the Food and Drug Administration and two behavioral health interventions that could be considered for coverage, with one of the interventions showing significant weight loss at 12 months or greater.
The second report, which focuses on strengthening child nutrition programs, finds that most federal nutrition programs operate via annual appropriations legislation.
Although school nutrition programs and other food assistance programs can help shield children from food insecurity, still about 7.6% of U.S. households with children experienced food insecurity in 2020, a 6.5% increase from 2019.
To strengthen food and nutrition security outside of schools, the report recommends establishing permanent summer Electronic Benefits Transfer programs or improving women, infant and children nutrition programs by expanding eligibility, utilizing new technologies and strengthening nutrition and breastfeeding support.
Total federal expenditures for the child nutrition programs reached $23.6 billion in fiscal year 2019 and $32.3 billion in FY2020. Overall, obesity was estimated to be responsible for $248 billion in annual medical expenditures in 2020.
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