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119-hr-1978119th CongressWALLET

To direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy to treat obesity as a disease and reduce the prevalence of obesity in certain Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Representative Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

Introduced

Summary

Treating obesity as a medical disease across the U.S. military. H.R. 1978 would require the Department of Defense to develop a coordinated strategy and run an educational campaign to promote diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of obesity in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

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  • Service members would face expanded screening, prevention messaging, and clearer paths to diagnosis and treatment as obesity is reframed as a disease. DoD would also have to report unmet weight standards in reports on enlistment disqualifications and medical discharges.
  • Military health care providers would get targeted education and guidance, because the bill directs assessments of nutrition training and updates to provider guidance to improve diagnosis and treatment.
  • The Department of Defense would assess and coordinate existing obesity, food, and nutrition programs, submit a report to Congress with legislative recommendations within one year, and the Government Accountability Office would analyze current programs while the Defense Health Agency reports annually on effectiveness.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Plan to treat obesity in the military

This bill would require the Defense Department to create a plan within one year to treat obesity as a disease and lower its rates among service members. The plan would coordinate programs, review what works, and update training for military doctors and clinicians. DoD would run an educational campaign for troops and health staff on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The Secretary would consult Health and Human Services and Medicare/Medicaid officials while building the plan. The bill would also require new reports to Congress on obesity’s impact on readiness and program results.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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