The obesity crisis is a growing business and health challenge for employers. A recent study from the Milken Institute found that obesity and overweight factors among employees in the nonfarm civilian workforce cost about $425.5 billion, including a combined $146.5 billion in higher medical costs to employers ($89.8 billion) and employees ($56.7 billion). Meanwhile, the rise in GLP-1s and other weight loss medications have rapidly broken into the mainstream national conversation, leading to a shortage for some brands and some new limitations in coverage. As a result, those who most need the medications are losing access.

The effect of the crisis is even more profound considering that obesity is a sign of deeply rooted health and racial inequities linked to income levels, education, geographic location and more. According to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, obesity rates are higher for Black (43%), Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (43%), American Indian and Alaska Native (39%), and Hispanic (37%) populations than White adults (32%).