A press release from the Obesity Action Coalition, a nearly 50,000 member-strong 501(c)(3) national non-profit organization founded in 2005 with a mission to giving a voice to the individual affected by the disease of obesity and helping individuals along their journey toward better health through education, advocacy and support, announced 100 members of the House of Representatives and 10 in the Senate have shown their support for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA). This Act aims to provide those under Medicare with more treatment options to help address being overweight or obese.

“We are very excited to have more than 100 legislators supporting the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2015,” Joe Nadglowski, president and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition, said in the release. “Each day we’re learning more and more that obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease requiring a comprehensive all-of-the-above treatment plan. Having this level of support truly demonstrates the importance of this legislation on a national level.”

The TROA will enable the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend its preexisting insurance benefits for intensive behavioral counseling, and effectively remove the restriction on FDA-approved prescription medication indicated for long-term weight management.

“This is a very exciting time for changes in health care,” Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, chairman of the Obesity Action Coalition, said in the release. “A proper way to celebrate Medicare’s Golden Anniversary would be to ensure the program doesn’t place treatment restrictions on the most common disease, obesity, within the program. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have openly expressed that it is important for them to explore ways to keep Medicare and Medicaid strong for the next 50 years. With this in mind, it is crucial that we advocate to our elected officials regarding obesity and its treatments. The most important action individuals affected by obesity, and those caring for individuals affected, can do is to contact their legislators in Congress and ask for passage of TROA.”

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is celebrating its 30th anniversary by strengthening its commitments to end obesity in the United States by 2035. The council provides education, certification and representation to fitness professionals, health coaches and wellness experts and is determined to fight the increasing obesity epidemic with next-generation approaches.

The ACE established a plan for the next 30 years, starting by improving access to physical activity, nutrition and behavior changes as preventive methods to reduce the gap between exercise and healthcare. The second goal is to maintain its services as a public researcher and watchdog to provide scientific information and resources that are also easy to understand.