H.R. 1978

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · March 10, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Buchanan · Committee: Committee on Armed Services

Table of contents

• H.R. 1978
  • SEC. 1. Combating obesity in certain Armed Forces

SEC. 1. Combating obesity in certain Armed Forces

• (a) Strategy and educational campaign
  • (1) In general
    • Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall—
      • develop a strategy to align the obesity-related programs of the Department of Defense with the classification of obesity as a medically accepted disease; and
      • conduct an educational campaign to promote awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity as a disease in the covered Armed Forces.
  • (2) Requirements for strategy
    • The strategy developed under paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following:
      • A plan to coordinate obesity-related programs across the Department of Defense to treat obesity as a disease and reduce the prevalence of obesity in the covered Armed Forces.
      • An assessment of the effectiveness of health programs of the Department of Defense that are intended to educate, prevent, or treat obesity among members of the covered Armed Forces, and a plan to modify or update such programs to treat obesity as a disease.
      • An assessment of the adequacy of nutrition education for physicians and other health care practitioners in the military health system to evaluate and treat obesity as a disease, including the need for any additional education or guidelines for such physicians and other health care practitioners.
      • A strategy to work toward members of the covered Armed Forces with obesity receiving appropriate treatment.
  • (3) Requirements for educational campaign
    • The educational campaign conducted under paragraph (1)(B) shall include the following:
      • Information to educate members of the covered Armed Forces regarding best practices to prevent, reduce, or mitigate obesity, and available resources to address the root causes of obesity.
      • Information targeted to physicians and other health care practitioners in the military health system to promote diagnosis and treatment of obesity as a disease.
  • (4) Consultation
    • In developing the strategy and educational campaign required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and other agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services, as determined appropriate by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• (b) Inclusion of information regarding unmet weight standards in certain reports
  • Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall include information regarding unmet weight standards in any report submitted by the Secretary to Congress regarding disqualifications for enlistment in, disability incurred in, or medical discharges from, the covered Armed Forces.
• (c) Additional Department of Defense reports
  • (1) Effects of obesity on readiness of covered Armed Forces
    • Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report regarding the effects of obesity on the readiness of the covered Armed Forces. Such report shall include legislative recommendations of the Secretary to address such effects.
  • (2) Effectiveness of obesity, food, and nutrition-related programs of Department of Defense
    • Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director of the Defense Health Agency shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the effectiveness of the obesity, food, and nutrition-related programs of the Department of Defense in reducing obesity and improving military readiness.
• (d) GAO report
  • (1) In general
    • Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report analyzing the existing obesity, food, and nutrition-related programs of the Department of Defense.
  • (2) Requirements
    • The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
      • An assessment of programs directed to members of the covered Armed Forces.
      • An assessment of programs directed to health care providers in the military health system.
      • An assessment of the effectiveness of such programs in reducing obesity and the impact of obesity on military readiness.
      • Recommendations to coordinate and improve existing programs to reduce obesity and the impact of obesity on military readiness.
• (e) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term appropriate congressional committees means the following:
    • The term covered Armed Force means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.