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HOST: Did you know that as many as one-third of all American adults are overweight? And
another third are considered obese? These statistics--provided by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention--are alarming. Unfortunately, America's Veterans are no exception.
Nearly three-quarters of our Vets are either overweight or obese. VA's National Center
for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention is working to reverse this trend through a
program designed to educate and support Veterans who are committed to losing weight.
NARRATOR: With VA's help, many Veterans are winning the "Battle of the Bulge" through
a health-conscious program called "M.O.V.E." KELLY MCBRIDE: "When people start to incorporate
physical activity in their day, often you have an increase of energy, which is nice.
You're not so fatigued throughout the day. And it's a really good stress reliever."
NARRATOR: By participating in M.O.V.E, Veterans everywhere can take advantage of an effective
way to better manage their weight--and ultimately their health.
VOICEOVER: "You all right, Michael?" MICHAEL JACKSON: "I'm good, I'm good."
JACKSON: "I found that I couldn't walk a half a block without being tired and wore out,
gasping for breath from the parking lot to here. The doctor told me that I needed to
lose some weight." NARRATOR: Jackson has lost 60 pounds in less
than a year by adjusting his diet and working out on a regular basis at this VA circuit-training
facility. MCBRIDE: "It took a little time to get him
motivated and to get him actually making some healthy lifestyle changes, but he does small
things like decrease his portions and he works out every single day."
NARRATOR: By providing expert advice and encouragement, VA dietician Kelly McBride has been helping
Jackson and other Veterans meet their weight loss goals.
MCBRIDE: "I think it definitely helps if a Veteran comes in and they see someone who
is interested in their well-being and wants them to succeed.
NARRATOR: To further demonstrate their commitment to helping Vets trim down, VA employees in
Philadelphia are joining with other medical centers across the U.S. to help Vets "Walk
the Talk." MCBRIDE: "Every employee that's signed up
gets a pedometer, which is a little device that you wear on your waist to track the steps
you take in a day. I think when employees take an active role in their health, they're
more likely to actually encourage Veterans to take that into consideration for themselves.
VOICEOVER: "Working out pretty hard today." JACKSON: "Yeah."
MCBRIDE: "Especially for someone like Mr. Jackson, he will stop in weekly just to get
a pep talk. Sometimes you just need to know someone's on your side and someone has maybe
a different suggestion or, um, different advice to give you just to help to keep on track."
NARRATOR: According to McBride--when it comes to maintaining proper weight--staying on track
is important because the health consequences of carrying excess weight can be serious--even
life-threatening. MCBRIDE: "When you're considered overweight
or obese, you definitely have a predisposition to diseases like diabetes, heart disease,
high blood pressure. And general research shows, no matter what weigh you come in at,
if you can lose 10 percent of that weight, it greatly impacts your health."
NARRATOR: McBride has this advice for Veterans who are discouraged in their struggle to lose
pounds. MCBRIDE: "Weight loss takes time. It's not
something you do for three or six months and then go back to your old habits. It's really
about making those healthy lifestyle changes that last a lifetime."
HOST: VA is committed to helping American Veterans achieve and maintain their right
weight so they can lead a more healthy and fulfilling life. If you'd like to learn more
about VA's weight loss program, visit the M.O.V.E. website at w-w-w-dot-move-dot-v-a-dot-gov.
There, you'll find a lot of helpful information about exercise and nutrition.