The United States may expand visa restrictions to applicants with health conditions linked to non-communicable diseases, including obesity, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated.

According to reports, the Trump administration has instructed US visa officers to reconsider applications from individuals with obesity and other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Rubio reportedly sent a cable to US embassies and consulates worldwide on Wednesday, outlining the new guidance, according to the Washington Post.

The proposed rules would grant visa officers authority to conduct medical assessments for non-communicable diseases and, where appropriate, deny visas. The policy, first reported by KFF Health News, has drawn both criticism and support internationally.

Obesity affects over one billion people worldwide. In the United States, more than forty percent of adults are classified as obese, according to World Health Organization data, highlighting the potential scale of the measure should it be implemented.