Fresh Focus #19: MOVE! with a Blueprint for Success

MOVE! Weight management program is a lifestyle intervention for weight management. In this Fresh Focus episode, we are going to refer to it as our blueprint for success.

It’s important for our listeners to know that every VA Medical Center has a dedicated MOVE! coordinator and MOVE program available to assist our Veterans in making healthier choices. Although the program is standardized, Veterans have so many options to personalize their experience with phone, VA Video Connect, video groups, healthy teaching kitchen and individualized support.

This series hands that blueprint over to you and provides you with the tools to carry the plan through. MOVE isn’t just a “diet” or an exercise program. It’s really three combined components: nutrition, behavior change and physical activity. Not only do we need to have a plan, but we also need the right tools in our tool belt for a plan to come to life, and that’s what this series is all about.

MOVE’s core ideas include encouraging healthy eating, increasing physical activity, developing behavior change skills and promoting even small weight loss with an easy-to-follow evidenced based program. With these strategies, Veterans can reduce health risks, prevent certain diseases, improve their quality of live and even live longer.

If weight loss is your main priority, we generally recommend a goal of losing 5-10% of your current body weight. Research shows it will lower your risk of heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Your MOVE teams across the country are all committed to assisting and supporting you in achieving and maintaining a healthier weight and healthier lifestyle.

Listen in as we dive into each of the tools to help you reach your goals.

Cathy Ludwig-Bell is chief of Nutrition Service at the Marion VA.