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.
This bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense develop a comprehensive strategy within one year to align Department of Defense (DoD) obesity-related programs with the classification of obesity as a medically accepted disease. This strategy must include a plan to coordinate existing programs, assess their effectiveness, and ensure adequate nutrition education for military healthcare practitioners to treat obesity. Concurrently, the Secretary must launch an educational campaign to raise awareness, promote diagnosis, and facilitate treatment of obesity among service members and healthcare providers in the covered Armed Forces. The legislation also establishes several reporting requirements to Congress. The Secretary of Defense must include information on unmet weight standards in relevant reports and submit a report on the effects of obesity on military readiness , including legislative recommendations. Additionally, the Director of the Defense Health Agency is required to submit annual reports on the effectiveness of DoD's obesity, food, and nutrition-related programs in reducing obesity and improving readiness. Finally, the Comptroller General must conduct an independent assessment of existing DoD obesity programs, their effectiveness, and provide recommendations for improvement.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Armed Forces and National Security
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.
USA119th CongressHR-1978| House
| Updated: 3/10/2025
This bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense develop a comprehensive strategy within one year to align Department of Defense (DoD) obesity-related programs with the classification of obesity as a medically accepted disease. This strategy must include a plan to coordinate existing programs, assess their effectiveness, and ensure adequate nutrition education for military healthcare practitioners to treat obesity. Concurrently, the Secretary must launch an educational campaign to raise awareness, promote diagnosis, and facilitate treatment of obesity among service members and healthcare providers in the covered Armed Forces. The legislation also establishes several reporting requirements to Congress. The Secretary of Defense must include information on unmet weight standards in relevant reports and submit a report on the effects of obesity on military readiness , including legislative recommendations. Additionally, the Director of the Defense Health Agency is required to submit annual reports on the effectiveness of DoD's obesity, food, and nutrition-related programs in reducing obesity and improving readiness. Finally, the Comptroller General must conduct an independent assessment of existing DoD obesity programs, their effectiveness, and provide recommendations for improvement.