For veterans such as Chip Hanson, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ MOVE! program has delivered results that extend far beyond a number on a scale.
“The tools and tips from the program helped me to lose 35 pounds in six months,” Hanson said in a recent VA report highlighting veterans enrolled in the program through the Orlando VA Healthcare System.
The other participants said they had lower blood pressure, a substantial reduction in body weight and improved blood sugar levels. Alex Moreno, one of the veterans in the program, said that his average blood sugar fell from 6.0 two years ago to 5.4.
This is good news for those who are hoping to avoid diabetes. An A1C between 5.7% and 6.4% is considered to be in the prediabetes range, and a reading below 5.7 is considered to be optimal. These results showed he moved out of the prediabetic range, and while this is great news, continuous action needs to be taken to avoid getting back into that range.
Moreno credits MOVE! not as a simple diet or workout program that is more than advertised. Education, accountability, and a community for support that continues supporting them after the initial program ends were key to his success.
Weight-Lo...