IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1047 

Recognizing the need of Congress to prevent, address, and treat obesity 

as a disease in the United States on this World Obesity Day, March 

4, 2024. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 1, 2024 

Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK (for herself, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. 

PAYNE, and Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the need of Congress to prevent, address, and 

treat obesity as a disease in the United States on this 

World Obesity Day, March 4, 2024. 

Whereas obesity is a complex and multifactorial condition 

caused by genetic, environmental, behavioral, and other 

social determinants of health affecting both children and 

adults; 

Whereas obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, 

contributing to a myriad of health issues and impacting 

the well-being of individuals; 

Whereas obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, hypertension, high LDL 

cholesterol, low LDL cholesterol, dyslipidemia, type 2 diVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:54 Mar 01, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1047.IH HR1047

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•HRES 1047 IH 

abetes, chronic kidney disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, cancer, mental illness, 

body pain, dementia, asthma, and over 200 others and 

other types of neurodivergent diseases, respiratory tract 

infections, and infertility and loss of pregnancy for 

women; 

Whereas the costs come from treating obesity and its associated comorbidities are increasing, it is estimated that the 

annual medical cost of obesity was nearly $173 billion 

dollars in 2019, while medical costs were found to be 

$1,861 higher for those with obesity compared to patients at a normal weight; 

Whereas the United States Government spends approximately 

$283 billion on obesity-related direct health costs in 

2023, rising to $526.5 billion by 2033; 

Whereas the indirect costs of obesity on the economy are the 

productivity costs included and presenteeism, as well as 

premature mortality, loss of quality adjusted life years, 

and higher rates of disability benefit payments; 

Whereas obesity continues to have a strong impact on the 

global economy, the total costs of obesity are estimated 

to range from 0.05 percent to 2.24 percent of a country’s 

gross domestic product, and the World Obesity Federation estimates that the global economic impact of obesity 

will surpass $4 trillion by 2035; 

Whereas researchers have estimated that by 2030, if obesity 

trends continue unchecked, obesity-related medical costs 

alone could rise by $48 to $66 billion a year in the 

United States; 


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•HRES 1047 IH 

Whereas obesity-related conditions are among the leading 

causes of preventable and premature death in the United 

States; 

Whereas over 42 percent of adults in the United States and 

over 19 percent of children and adolescents in the United 

States are considered obese according to the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention; 

Whereas Black-American adults have the highest rates of 

obesity at 49.9 percent followed by American Indian and 

Alaska Native adults at 48 percent, Hispanic and Latino 

Americans at 45.6 percent, White-American adults at 

41.4 percent, and Asian-American adults at 16.1 percent; 

Whereas children living in families with low incomes are 2.31 

times more likely to develop childhood obesity compared 

to children living in higher income households; 

Whereas rural populations are significantly more likely to be 

obese than people living in urban counties; and 

Whereas individuals with obesity often face stigma, discrimination, and coverage barriers: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the urgent need to prevent, treat, 

3 and address obesity as a disease on this World Obe4 sity Day; 

5 (2) recognizes the need to categorize obesity as 

6 a disease to reduce the risk of other diseases and re7 lated comorbidities; 


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•HRES 1047 IH 

1 (3) understands that genetic, environmental, 

2 behavioral factors, and the social determinants of 

3 health contribute to obesity; and 

4 (4) encourages health care providers and re5 searchers to develop evidence-based strategies for 

6 the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity. 

Æ 


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