Research
Adherence
Minoritized racial and ethnic groups in the US Veterans Affairs healthcare system receive significantly less access to evidence-based obesity treatments (medications and bariatric surgery) compared to White patients, despite having universal insurance coverage.
If you are a minority veteran with obesity, do not assume insurance alone guarantees access to the best treatments. Proactively ask your provider about all options, including medications and surgery, and advocate for yourself if you feel you are being steered only toward lifestyle programs.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
Compared to White patients, patients belonging to racial/ethnic minority groups other than AI/AN were more likely to participate in MOVE! ... Patients in all non-White groups were less likely to receive weight loss medications ... The adjusted odds of receiving bariatric surgery for Black patients were significantly lower than for White patients
Why this rating
Large-scale observational study (n=2.4M) with robust statistical adjustment, but limited by preprint status and lack of causal mechanism proof.
Source
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Obesity Treatment in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
Rebecca L. Tisdale et al. · medRxiv · 2024
preprint · n=2423070
Read the paper This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →