(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The Chronic Care Policy Alliance (CCPA) announced today that a recent national survey showed strong, bipartisan support for increasing access to FDA-approved obesity medicines. Commissioned by CCPA, the Morning Consult survey of 2,001 registered voters nationwide also found that Americans overwhelmingly view obesity as a serious chronic disease, signaling broad support for policies that prioritize effective, evidence-based care.
“Americans are telling us something pretty clear: they believe people living with obesity deserve access to the care their doctors recommend,” said Liz Helms, CEO, CCPA. “State and federal policymakers must expand access to effective treatments, not restrict it further while continuing to stigmatize a chronic disease. As states consider policies affecting obesity treatment, we need to keep patients and their doctors at the center of those decisions, and make sure every patient has a fair opportunity to access the care that works for them.”
The survey’s key findings include:
Obesity is a Major Public Health Concern
- 82% of voters agree obesity deserves the same insurance coverage as other chronic diseases.
Voters Want Patients to Have Access to Treatment
- 80% believe all residents should have equal access to obesity medicines, regardless of income or socioeconomic status.
- 56% believe Medicaid coverage for obesity medicines is an investment in long-term health that prevents costly complications and reduces healthcare costs, rather than viewing medicines as too expensive for Medicaid to cover (26%).
- 78% agree doctors should have the freedom to prescribe obesity medicines without unnecessary coverage restrictions.
Medicaid Has a Responsibility to Help Provide Access
- 76% support Medicaid coverage of FDA-approved obesity treatments for eligible patients.
Voters Reward Policymakers Who Support Medicaid Coverage of Obesity Medicines
- 70% say they are more likely to support elected officials who back Medicaid coverage for obesity medicine.
The Morning Consult survey also makes clear that Americans don’t believe obesity is simply a matter of willpower. A majority of respondents recognize obesity as a chronic disease that may require medical treatment, and even more are concerned that patients are being denied access to FDA-approved obesity medicines because of gaps in Medicaid coverage.
“At the end of the day, this is about patients, particularly those that are most at-risk for obesity related complications. They should be able to sit down with their doctor, talk about what’s right for them, and be able to access the evidence-based treatment prescribed by their doctor. Not only is this the most ethical path, it’s the also the most fiscally sound in the long-term,” concluded Helms.
Morning Consult conducted the survey between July 8-15, 2026, among a sample of 2,001 registered voters. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of registered voters based on gender by age, gender by children in household, race by educational attainment, educational attainment, marital status, home ownership, region, 2024 presidential vote, and race. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.