New law brings new hope for Arkansans living with severe obesity

If you have ever tried to lose weight, you know the cycle. You plan ahead, buy healthier food and commit to exercise. At first, the scale moves and your clothes fit better. Then, despite doing all the same things, progress stalls. Frustration sets in, motivation fades and you are left wondering why your effort is not paying off.

For many people, that experience is not a failure of discipline. It is a sign of a disease.

Obesity is a chronic, complex medical condition, much like high blood pressure or diabetes. In its early stages, lifestyle changes may be enough. But for many people with severe obesity, diet and exercise alone are not effective long-term treatments. Genetics, metabolism and hormones all play a role, often making sustained weight loss extremely difficult.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, a new Arkansas law acknowledges that reality in an important way. Arkansas Act 628 requires many health insurance plans offered, issued or renewed in the state to cover medically necessary treatment for severe obesity, including bariatric surgery and the required preoperative and postoperative care. While the law does not require coverage for weight-loss medications, it significantly expands access to one of the most effective evidence-based treatments we have.

Historically, bariatric surgery was frequently excluded from insurance coverage. Even patients with serious obesity-related conditions like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea were often denied coverage. As a result, many Arkansans were left without access to care that could dramatically improve their health and quality of life.

One reason obesity is so difficult to treat is that the body actively works against weight loss. Over time, excess weight can reset the body’s internal “set point,” the weight it believes is normal. Hormones that regulate hunger and fullness, such as leptin, do not function the same way in people with obesity. When someone attempts a crash diet, those hormone changes can actually increase hunger and slow metabolism, making weight regain extremely common.

This is why telling someone to “just eat less and move more” often falls short. In fact, studies have shown that only a small percentage of people with severe obesity are able to maintain significant weight loss through diet and exercise alone. That does not mean healthy habits are unimportant. They are essential, but for many patients, they are not enough on their own.

Bariatric surgery works differently. Procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass do more than reduce stomach size. They change the hormonal signals that control appetite and metabolism, allowing the body to establish a new, healthier baseline. On average, patients can lose 70% or more of their excess weight and often see dramatic improvement in conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

It is important to be clear: expanded insurance coverage does not mean surgery is right for everyone. Medical criteria still apply, and treatment decisions should always be made between a patient and their care team. Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic. It is a medical treatment for a disease, and it requires long-term commitment and follow-up.

What this new law does is remove a major barrier. It allows patients and physicians to make informed decisions based on medical need rather than cost alone. That shift matters.

If you believe you may qualify under the new law, start with a conversation. Talk with your primary care provider, contact your insurance company or seek out a bariatric specialist. Obesity is not a personal failure, and seeking help is not giving up. It is taking your health seriously.

This legislation represents progress for Arkansas. It recognizes obesity as a disease and affirms that patients deserve access to proven, effective treatment. For many Arkansans, it opens the door to better health and a better future.

Editor’s note: Dr. Kristin Patton is the medical director for Bariatrics at Saline Health System. The opinions expressed are those of the author.