The United States faces a paradox: obesity affects 40% of adults and costs $1.4 trillion annually, yet 96% of people with obesity never receive medical treatment. Traditional approaches have failed because they address isolated aspects of a complex, system-wide problem spanning provider bias, fragmented care delivery, misaligned incentives, and societal stigma.

NEWDIGS launched this initiative in early 2024 to develop the first comprehensive, systems-level solution. Over 18 months, we convened healthcare providers, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, patient advocates, and policymakers in intensive Design Labs to map challenges and pressure-test solutions. This collaborative approach ensured every stakeholder's constraints and motivations were understood and addressed.

The result is a practical roadmap with three integrated solution areas and 36 specific action components. Rather than theoretical recommendations, these are implementable strategies that recognize how different stakeholders must work together for sustainable change.

Moving forward, we're expanding the coalition of implementing organizations, and developing stakeholder-specific toolkits. Our goal is to create a movement where obesity is treated as the chronic disease it is, with coordinated care that works for patients, providers, and the entire healthcare system.