February 13, 2026

Santa Fe, N.M. — As new analysis released by a collective group of advocates and organizations reveals that New Mexico enters 2026 facing the fastest rise in adult obesity rates in the nation, top health equity leaders  are pressing state lawmakers to take urgent and immediate action — including expanding access to FDA-approved anti-obesity medications through Medicaid. 

The new analysis — collectively released by the groups this week — reveals that “over the past decade, the state has experienced the fastest rise in obesity rates in the nation, with adult prevalence reaching 36.3 percent and nearly 43 percent among adults ages 25 to 34.” The analysis further reveals that the staggering uptick in obesity rates is disproportionately affecting Hispanic, Native American, and Black communities and poses an escalating threat to the state’s Medicaid program (Turquoise Care), public health infrastructure, and long-term economic stability.

Statewide health equity leaders behind the analysis — including National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), MANA, and the American Diabetes Association — said that the findings spurred them to  issue an urgent call to decision makers that  addressing New Mexico’s surging obesity epidemic must top the policy priority list during this year’s legislative session.

“Denying people the full tools to treat obesity is really denying care for all the illnesses that come after it. In Latino and border communities, the cost of delay is counted in years of life, not just dollars,” said Dr. Ray Serrano, National Director of Research and Policy for LULAC. “When a program like Medicaid leaves holes, those holes get filled by counterfeit and unregulated medicines. In the end, real coverage is the surest protection families have.” LULAC has 12 state councils in New Mexico, in Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Roswell, Santa Fe, Silver City, Taos, and Tularosa.

“Between 85-90% of people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. In addition to diabetes, excess body weight is one of the main drivers of disease and early mortality, putting people at higher risk for cancer, heart disease, stroke, and premature death,” said Christine Fallabel, Director of State Government Affairs and Advocacy for the American Diabetes Association. “Obesity is a costly and complex chronic condition, and we should treat it as such. There are evidence-based treatments that can treat obesity and help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, including GLP-1 medications and lifestyle changes.”

The joint calls for action comes on the heels of a similar push in November 2025 from an array of health equity leaders, reflecting the growing momentum among advocates, clinicians, and community leaders urging state policymakers to take action on treating obesity as the chronic disease it is — which also disproportionately affects communities of color.

Analysis Reveals Alarming Uptick In New Mexico Obesity Rates

The newly released policy analysis outlines the health, equity, and fiscal case for addressing the surging obesity crisis during New Mexico’s 2026 legislative session. Eye-opening state-level findings and data underscore the urgency to act, with more than 36% of adults in New Mexico living with obesity, and rates climbing to nearly 43% percent among adults ages 25 to 34 — the fastest increase of any state in the nation over the past decade. These trends disproportionately impact women, Hispanic, Native American, and Black communities, worsening longstanding health inequities and placing mounting pressure on the state’s Medicaid program.

Despite broad clinical consensus, New Mexico’s Medicaid program does not currently cover FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs), even as these treatments are increasingly recognized as a safe standard of care, effective in treatment of chronic disease, and covered by other public and private health plans across the country. This is especially relevant given the growing concern of coverage gaps that are pushing patients away from FDA-approved treatments and instead toward counterfeit and illegally compounded AOMs, which have increasingly been targeted to low-income and Latino communities via unsafe, unregulated alternatives. 

“New Mexico is at a tipping point when it comes to the patient care and evidence-based treatment of obesity. Lawmakers have the opportunity to act immediately to ensure safe treatment for those on Medicaid who can least afford the catastrophic consequences of the disease – costs that would ultimately fall to the state. We are asking the empathetic, fiscally-minded lawmakers of New Mexico to act in the 2026 session,” said Amy Hinojosa, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization.

“For decades, the National Hispanic Council on Aging has worked to ensure that Latino older adults can age with health, dignity, and independence in their own communities. In New Mexico, rising obesity rates are accelerating diabetes, heart disease, and disability — conditions that too often force seniors into avoidable institutional care and drive long-term Medicaid costs,” said Dr. Yanira Cruz, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA). Covering FDA-approved anti-obesity medications through Turquoise Care is a smart, preventive investment that can help people stay healthier longer, reduce disparities in access to care, and keep older adults where they want to be: at home, engaged, and thriving. Treating obesity as the chronic disease it is strengthens both health equity and the future sustainability of Medicaid. We urge lawmakers to use this legislative session to act.”

The newly released policy brief estimates that obesity-related conditions already cost billions annually in healthcare spending, lost productivity, and reduced tax revenue. Research shows that effective obesity treatment early can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%, helping avert predictable, lifelong medical costs that disproportionately fall on Medicaid, particularly over the long-term.

Fortunately, advocates say the 2026 legislative session represents a critical moment to move from awareness to action and ensure that New Mexico’s healthcare policies reflect both the science and the on-the-ground realities and needs of its communities. A dedicated appropriation to support Medicaid coverage of FDA-approved anti-obesity medications would save lives, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and protect New Mexicans in the long-run.