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------------ Losing Weight: Healthier Wallet
Title
----- Losing Weight: Healthier Wallet
Lose Weight - Get A Break
---------------------------------------- The American Obesity Association (AOA) wants to give new meaning to getting a deduction. Losing weight should get you a deduction. The non-profit advocacy organization is trying to change IRS policy to allow taxpayers to deduct cost of weight loss treatments.
The AOA and 10 other organizations (including Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, several pharmaceutical companies, professional societies, and consumer advocate groups) petitioned IRS last year to reverse revenue ruling that includes weight loss among such other non-deductible categories as cosmetic surgery and health clubs, and until recently, smoking cessation programs.
Weight Loss Programs Should Get The Same Break as Smoking Cessation Programs
---------------------------------------- The AOA would like to see weight loss treatments included in same category of allowable medical expenses like treatments for heart disease or stroke. According to Downey, IRS responded to petition last October by saying consideration would be given to reverse revenue ruling if facts were provided establishing either that obesity itself is a disease, or weight loss by an obese person could prevent onset of disease.
The AOA responded with an "exhaustive submission covering both of those bases," Downey says. "It almost gets to point, why did we ask this question in first place, it's so obvious, but of course, it isn't, there's still a lot of misunderstanding about obesity."
The AOA wants reversal to allow deductions for costs of comprehensive obesity treatment, including surgery, pharmacology, behavioral counseling, and programs for specific purpose of weight maintenance and loss. Downey says he's "optimistic" IRS will rule in their favor based on strength of evidence in their 58-page submission to agency.