Company announcement

Novo Nordisk encourages Congress to pass the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act

PLAINSBORO, NJ, March 3, 2021 – Decades of research demonstrate that overweight and obesity are not simply a result of needing to eat less and move more. Rather obesity is a disease that requires access to a continuum of care. At Novo Nordisk, we are dedicated to changing the conversation around obesity and ensuring treatment for this disease is a healthcare priority. That’s why we strongly support enactment of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA). By ensuring access to FDA-approved medication and behavioral treatments, TROA ensures seniors are able to access the care needed to conquer the obesity epidemic in the United States.

“Two in five Americans suffer from obesity – yet less than 2% of patients living with obesity have access to treatment,” said Doug Langa, executive vice president, North America Operations and president of Novo Nordisk Inc. “Unfortunately, despite the millions of people who live with obesity every day, we have yet to see a shift in the healthcare system to ensure these individuals can receive the medical care they need and deserve. This legislation represents an important turning point and we urge the passage of TROA.”

About Obesity
Obesity is a chronic, progressive and misunderstood disease that requires long-term medical management.^1,2 One key misunderstanding is that this is a disease of willpower, when in fact there is underlying biology that prevents people from losing weight and keeping it off.³ Obesity is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, appetite signals, behavior and the environment.³ It is a gateway disease and is associated with at least 60 other health conditions.⁴ The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that obesity also increases the risk for severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19.^5,6

The global increase in the prevalence of obesity is a public health issue that has severe cost implications to healthcare systems. In the United States, more than 42% of adults live with obesity.⁷

About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company that's been making innovative medicines to help people with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives for 95 years. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious diseases including obesity, hemophilia and growth disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for lasting success is to stay focused, think long-term and do business in a financially, socially and environmentally responsible way. With U.S. headquarters in New Jersey and production and research facilities in six states, Novo Nordisk employs nearly 6,000 people throughout the country. For more information, visit novonordisk.us, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

References

¹ American Medical Association. A.M.A Adopts New Policies on Second Day of Voting at Annual Meeting. Obesity as a Disease. Available at: http://news.cision.com/american-medical-association/r/ama-adopts-new-policies-on-second-day-of-voting-at-annual-meeting,c9430649. Last accessed: November 2020.

2 Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH. World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. ObesRev. 2017;18(7):715-723. doi:10.1111/obr.12551.

3 Wright SM, Aronne LJ. Causes of obesity. Abdom Imaging. 2012;37(5):730-732.

4 Bays HE, McCarthy W, Christensen S, et al. Obesity Algorithm, presented by the Obesity Medicine Association. Available at: https://obesitymedicine.org/obesity-algorithm/. Last Accessed: November 2020.

5 Finer N, Garnett SP and Bruun JM. COVID-19 and obesity. Clin Obes. 2020; 10:e12365.

6 Ryan DH, Ravussin E and Heymsfield S. COVID 19 and the Patient with Obesity - The Editors Speak Out. Obesity. 2020; 28:847.

7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Facts. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html. Updated June 29, 2020. Last accessed: November 2020.