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Meeting your weight loss goals may sometimes seem unattainable. Whether you are considering a major weight-loss program or wanting to shed a few extra pounds, TRICARE’s Healthy Choices for Life initiative can help.
An Alarming Problem
Overweight and obesity are growing problems across the country and particularly in the military population. Among the military population, 13 percent of active duty adults are obese, 34 percent of non-active duty adults are obese, and 18.9 percent of military adolescents are obese (National Quality Monitoring Programs).
These numbers aren’t entirely surprising. Col. Joyce Grissom USAF, MC, Medical Director at TMA, attributes the rise in overweight and obesity to several factors—genetics, physiology, age, physical activity, food intake, and social and environmental factors. “The balance between energy intake—or food consumed—is somehow greater than energy expended in activity,” says Col. Grissom. “Food is easy to come by, and portion sizes are larger than we need; this is detrimental when combined with a sedentary lifestyle,” she explains. “That abundance is killing us.”
A Factor in Other Health Complications
Obesity can both compound and lead to other health complications. “It’s a risk factor for other diseases,” maintains Col. Grissom. Obesity can negatively impact a person’s quality of life. The American Heart Association asserts that too much fat, especially in the waist area, heightens the risk for health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Visit the American Heart Association Web site (www.americanheart.org) for more information.
A Plan for a Healthier Lifestyle
Col. Grissom suggests taking small steps toward a healthier lifestyle. She recommends switches, such as substituting diet soda for regular or eating one cookie instead of five. She also adds that the most obvious benefit of making healthy choices, such as eating healthy and exercising, is that you will feel better and be able to do more of the things that are important to you—whether that is walking, playing sports, gardening or keeping up with your children or grandchildren.
In the long run, you will experience less preventable pain over time from wear and tear on your joints. You may avoid or reduce problems with gastric reflux commonly known as “heartburn.”You will be less likely to be injured with exercise, and you will be less prone to abnormal sleep leading to drowsiness during the day. You will be at lower risk for several types of cancer, and it is likely that you will live longer.
According to Col. Grissom, the key to weight loss is fundamentally very simple: “Take less in and/or have more energy out.” Even adjustments of 100 calories a day can result in losing a pound a month. “Look for things that are sustainable, rather than some crazy, hateful diet.” Most importantly, she says, don’t give up if you fall off the wagon. “The next meal or tomorrow will come; you can make a better choice then.”
For more information, access the Healthy Choices for Life Web site at www.tricare.mil/healthychoices and click on “lose weight.”
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