# Presentation: 741792

## HealthierUSVeterans

**Notes:**
Speaker should introduce self and explain connection to HealthierUS Veterans, VA and/or HHS.

## What is HealthierUS Veterans?

**An initiative sponsored by the  Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Health and Human Services (HHS)**
**Designed to help veterans, their families, and communities                                improve their health                                         by eating healthy                                   and being active**

**Notes:**
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have joined forces in an effort to improve the health of the nation. 
The focus of this joint initiative, HealthierUS Veterans, is to educate veterans, their families, and communities about the health risks of obesity and diabetes and ways to reduce risk - eating healthy and being active. 

Former VA Secretary James Nicholson said, “Obesity and diabetes are major threats to the health and lifestyles of our veterans, deserving a robust campaign to better educate them on healthy habits.”
HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt said, “We are working to encourage Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle and to take responsibility for making wise choices to improve their fitness and health.”

## Why HealthierUS Veterans?

**Why HealthierUS Veterans?**

**A growing number of Americans struggle with obesity and diabetes**
**Obesity and diabetes are significant problems for veterans**
**Veterans and their****families make up 1⁄4 ****of US population*****(approximately 70 million****** people)***

**Notes:**
The national rates of obesity and diabetes are increasing.  Obesity and diabetes are significant problems for veterans.  
By focusing efforts to address these conditions on the population of veterans and their families, up to a quarter of the entire US population, about 70 million people, can be reached.  

## If you are overweight, you are at increased risk for...

**Diabetes**
**High blood pressure**
**High blood cholesterol**
**Heart disease**
**Trouble breathing during sleep**
**Joint pain**
**Some types of cancer**

**Notes:**
Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, trouble breathing during sleep, joint pain, as well as certain cancers.  It is associated with approximately 112,000 deaths each year in the United States. 
Recognizing that health problems resulting from overweight and obesity could reverse many of the health gains achieved in the U.S. in recent decades, the Surgeon General issued a Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity in 2001. 
Weight loss can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and in some cases decrease blood pressure. 

## Here is what you can do...

**Eat healthy **
**Be active**
**Get fit for life**
**Get involved                                           with HealthierUS                                 Veterans**

**Notes:**
You can make a difference.
Here is what you can do...
Eat healthy 
Be active
Get fit for life, and
Get involved with HealthierUS Veterans

## Good nutrition and regular physical activity help you:

**Have more energy**
**Sleep better**
**Reduce body fat and weight gain**
**Control your blood sugar**
**Lower blood pressure**
**Decrease “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and increase “good” cholesterol (HDL)**

**Notes:**
Good nutrition and regular physical activity do have benefits.  They can help you to...
Have more energy
Sleep better
Reduce body fat and weight gain
Control your blood sugar, if you have diabetes
Lower blood pressure, and
Decrease what is known as bad cholesterol, or LDL, and increase what is known as good cholesterol, or HDL

## Eat Healthy

**Aim for at least 5 servings of colorful vegetables or fruit each day**

**Notes:**
How can you eat healthy?
First of all aim for at least 5 servings of colorful vegetables or fruit each day.
What is a serving?
For vegetables...
1⁄2 cup cooked
1 cup raw (example - leafy greens)
1⁄2 cup 100% juice, or
1⁄4 cup dried 

And for fruit...
1 medium piece of whole fruit like and apple, orange or peach (about the size of a tennis ball)
1⁄2 cup  of fresh, frozen or canned fruit
1⁄2 cup of 100% juice, or
1⁄4 cup dried fruit

## Eat Healthy

**Have 3 servings of lowfat milk, cheese, yogurt or other calcium-rich foods each day**

**Notes:**
Calcium is important to keep our heart beating and our muscles and bones strong.
To get enough calcium we need to have 3 servings of lowfat milk, cheese, or yogurt each day.
What is a serving of dairy?
8 ounces (1 cup) of lowfat milk or yogurt
1 1⁄2 ounces of natural cheese, 2 ounces of processed cheese
1 cup of pudding made with lowfat milk

If you don’t or can’t drink milk, choose lactose-free milk products and/or calcium rich foods, like deep green vegetables, or calcium-fortified foods and beverages (cereal and 100% juice).

## Eat Healthy

**Make half your grains whole grains**

**Notes:**
Whole grains give you energy and important nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and fiber, for health.  Fiber helps with controlling hunger and weight, reducing blood cholesterol, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and controlling blood sugar.
Just because a grain is brown or dark in color does not mean it is a whole grain.  Check the ingredient list for the word “whole” before grains (examples: whole wheat, whole grain oats, whole grain cornmeal).
What is a serving?
1  ounce of grain
1  slice of bread
1  cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or
1⁄2 cup of cooked cereal, pasta, or rice 

## Eat Healthy

**Know the limits on fat, salt and sugar**

**Notes:**
Know the limits on fat, salt and sugar...
Read the Nutrition Facts label on foods.  
Look for foods low in saturated fats and trans fats. 
Broil, bake, steam or grill your food instead of frying it. 
Choose lean cuts of meat; cut off visible fat.
Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little salt (sodium) and/or added sugars (caloric sweeteners like sucrose or high fructose corn-syrup).
All foods can be enjoyed in moderation once you know the limits.

## Eat Healthy

**Control calories**

**Notes:**
To manage your weight, balance what you eat and drink with how active you are.  
You should also balance foods higher in calories, fat, and sugar with choices that are lower in calories, fat, and sugar.  
Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy products.  These are good for you and help to fill you up.

## Eat Healthy

**Drink water or other low calorie beverages**

**Notes:**
Drink water, diet sodas or artificially sweetened drinks instead of sugar-sweetened beverages.  Drink a glass of water before eating and drink water with your meal.

## Be Active

**Use the stairs instead of the elevator, if possible**

**Notes:**
Whenever you can use the stairs instead of the elevator. 
Walking up stairs burns almost 5 times more calories than riding an elevator.
Small steps make big differences.

## Be Active

**Be Active**

**Take a walk (or roll) each day**

**Notes:**
Take a walk or roll each day, rain or shine.
Walk the dog.
Walk and talk with a friend or loved one.

## Be Active

**Be Active**

**Park farther away from your destination**

**Notes:**
Park farther away and walk or roll to your destination.
You’ll spend less time looking for a parking space close the entrance and burn more calories. 

## Be Active

**Stretch while watching TV**

**Notes:**
Choose not to be a couch potato.  
Limit screen time.  Take a walk (or roll if in a wheelchair) instead.  
When you do watch TV, use that opportunity to do some stretching.  
Lose the remote.  Move to change the TV channels.

## Be Active

**Be Active**

**Move your body every chance you get**

**Notes:**
Move your body every chance you get.
Put on some music and dance...
Fidget...
Have fun being active with family and friends...

## HealthierUS Veterans Can Help You

**HealthierUS Veterans ****Can**** Help You**

**VA’s *****MOVE!***** Weight Management Program**
**Prescription for Health **
**Fitness Challenges**
**Partnerships between VA medical facilities and community-based programs funded by HHS **
**Fit for Life Volunteer Corps**

**Notes:**
HealthierUS Veterans has a number of components to help you:
The VA’s MOVE! Weight Management Program for veterans
A “Prescription for Health” to encourage physical activity
Fitness Challenges
Partnering of VA medical facilities with “Steps to a HealthierUS” and other HHS funded prevention programs, and a
A volunteer corps of active veterans and others, called Fit for Life

## VA              Weight Management Program

**Helps veterans lose weight, keep it off, and improve health**
***MOVE!***** **
**Emphasizes health, not looks**
**Is tailored to meet your needs**
**Helps you with nutrition, physical activity, and behavior change**
**Includes regular follow-up and support**

**Notes:**
VA has developed a patient-centered weight management program called MOVE!, which is being implemented in VA medical facilities across the country. MOVE! has a comprehensive focus on behavior, nutrition, and physical activity and is designed to help veterans interested in managing their weight to lose weight, keep it off and improve their health.  
Veterans first complete an online questionnaire, the MOVE!23, that asks questions about health status and what may be getting in the way of being able to manage weight.  Answers guide the generation of a tailored patient report with recommended handouts and instructions for follow-up with the VA healthcare team.  The VA healthcare team members help veterans to set goals and provide follow-up either in person or by telephone.  If a veteran needs more support for weight management, they can have one-on-one counseling with a dietitian, behavioral health expert, or physical activity specialist.  They may also participate in group sessions on behavior, nutrition, and physical activity.

Because of the multidisciplinary, tiered structure of MOVE!, many private physicians will not be able to implement the entire program in their offices, but interested persons and providers can use some of the basic components available on the MOVE! website, such as the MOVE!23 questionnaire, the over 100 patient handouts and the resource materials for health professionals.  There are also links to additional nutrition, physical activity and community resources.

## www.move.va.gov

**Notes:**
Visit the MOVE! website at www.move.va.gov.

## Prescription for Health

**Prescription for Health**

- Ask your medical provider about a Prescription for Health to encourage you to be more active
- This prescription includes recommended steps to walk or a distance to roll in a wheelchair

**Notes:**
VA primary care providers give each veteran enrolled in MOVE! a pedometer, a handout that explains how to use the pedometer or odometer, and an exercise prescription, or Prescription for Health, for recommended physical activity, such as a number of daily steps to walk.  For those in wheelchairs, odometers can also be obtained.  
Ask your medical provider for a Prescription for Health.

## Prescription for Health

**Notes:**
Veterans with a doctor’s order can pick up a pedometer or odometer in Prosthetics.  If you are not a veteran, your provider can use a copy of the prescription from the HealthierUS Veterans website.  Pedometers and odometers can be easily purchased at a reasonable cost.
The brochure and handout on how to use a pedometer or odometer as well as activity logs are downloadable from the MOVE! website.

## Fitness Challenges

**Fitness Challenges**

**Participate in VA Medical Center        (VAMC) Fitness Challenges **
**Encourage family, friends, and                  **
**   ****co-workers to take the challenge**
**Register for the President’s            Challenge and track fitness                 activities on-line **
**www.healthierusveterans.va.gov/FitnessChallenges.asp**
** **

**Notes:**
Competition and sport are ways to inspire activity.  Fitness Challenges amongst VA medical centers, “Steps to a HealthierUS” communities, and others will encourage activity and involvement.  A Fitness Challenge can be a “Walk & Roll”, mini-marathon, or other creative event. 
Take the Challenge! Be a physically active role model for your family and friends. You, your family, or coworkers can have activity challenges by setting up your own groups on the website for local competitions. 
HealthierUS Veterans promotes the President's Challenge, a program that encourages all Americans to make being active part of their everyday lives. No matter what your activity and fitness level, the President's Challenge can help motivate you to improve. To participate, you can register and log your fitness activities online. 

## Slide 24

**Notes:**
Please use the HealthierUS Veterans website portal to access the President’s Challenge.  This allows for tracking participation of veterans, family members, VA employees, and others and will help with the evaluation of the initiative.

## Slide 25

**Notes:**
This is the customized entry page for HealthierUS Veterans to the President’s Challenge website.  It also has links for physical activity resources on the HealthierUS Veterans and MOVE! websites.

## Fit for Life Volunteer Corps

**Encourage veterans and their family members to eat healthy and be active **
**Promote HealthierUS Veterans special events, Fitness Challenges, and the President’s Challenge**
**Contact your local VAMC Voluntary Service to sign up **

**Notes:**
The Fit for Life Corps consists of volunteers made up of veterans, their families, friends, and anyone interested in supporting the effort. Volunteers will encourage veterans and their family members to eat healthy and be active to reduce risk for obesity and diabetes. 
Corps members may promote HealthierUS Veterans events, Fitness Challenges, activities of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and special events such as the VA Winter Sports Clinic, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and Golden Age Games.  They can also serve as liaisons with VA medical facilities and community groups or as health and wellness event coordinators, health information coordinators, etc.

Speaker Reference:
The goals of the Fit for Life Veteran Volunteer Corps are to: 

•	Support the overall mission of the HealthierUS Veterans by encouraging veterans and their family members to 	prevent obesity and diabetes 
•	Provide volunteer resources to help realize the mission of the HealthierUS Veterans 
•	Develop partnerships with local non-profit agencies to promote health and wellness in the veteran community 
•	Generate a significant positive impact within the veteran population and the local community through health 	and wellness programs 
•	Develop positive outreach and networking opportunities with veterans service organizations and local 	community groups 
•	Celebrate, encourage and promote diversity throughout the program 

## My HealtheVet

**My Health**_***e***_**Vet**

**My Health**_*e*_**Vet offers tools to help you keep track of what you eat and how active you are**
**Website:****                                ****www.myhealth.va.gov**

**Notes:**
My HealtheVet offers tools for eating healthy, being active, and getting fit for life.  For example, veterans and family members can access online logs to keep track of what they eat and how active they are.

## Fitness DVD

**Fitness DVD**

**Notes:**
The HealthierUS Veterans “Get Fit for Life” exercise DVD features a full exercise program and more.  The format allows participants to choose from chapters for a complete and personalized workout.  The exercise portion of the DVD starts with a warm-up and progresses to aerobic activity, strength and balance for beginners, intermediate strength training, stretching and cool-down.  Additional chapters include myths, tips and facts and inspirational stories from veterans who have added physical activity into their lives with positive results.  The DVD has easy to follow instructions and demonstrations, clinicians and veterans can use the DVD in a group or veterans can use it in the comfort and privacy of their home.  Accompanying the DVD is a 20-page companion booklet with supplementary information about the health benefits of physical activity and an activity log for use.

## Community-Based Programs Funded by HHS

***Steps to a HealthierUS***** programs in 40 communities address physical inactivity and poor nutrition to reduce obesity and diabetes**
**Find out if you live in a                        community with a                                  *****Steps to a HealthierUS                   ***** Program**

**Notes:**
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, Steps to a HealthierUS program has provided funding to states, cities, and tribal entities for innovative community-based programs targeted at reducing obesity, diabetes, and asthma-related complications. The CDC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases is designed to help states prevent obesity and other chronic diseases by addressing poor nutrition and physical inactivity. 
Part of HealthierUS Veterans includes the connection of the 40 Steps to a HealthierUS communities and 28 CDC Nutrition and Physical Activity Program states with local VA medical facilities to help you, your family, and neighbors to lead healthier lives.
On the next page is a link to find Steps communities.

## Slide 30

**Notes:**
Visit the Steps to a HealthierUS website, www.cdc.gov/steps. The HealthierUS Veterans website contains a link to this site.  The Steps site is a great place to access the latest information about the Steps Program, including community successes, partnership activities, and related resources. 

## What Our VAMC is Doing

**Offering the *****MOVE!***** Program**
**(Establishing a walking trail or route on the grounds)**
**(Posting reminders about taking the stairs near elevators; brighten/enhance stairwells)**
**(Organizing a farmers market)**

**Notes:**
Speaker suggestion:
Customize this slide to showcase and explain what is being done at your facility to promote HealthierUS Veterans, MOVE!, healthy eating, and physical activity.  These bullets are examples and may be changed to reflect what you are doing.

## How Can You Get Involved

**Actively participate in HealthierUS Veterans activities at your local VAMC**
**Become a “Fit for Life” Volunteer**
**Help promote this program to other veterans, their families, community organizations, and the public-at-large**

**Notes:**
Here are some ways you (or your organization) can get involved.   

Speaker Suggestion:
This slide could be customized to encourage participation in local activities – be specific about what those activities are.

## Remember...

**Eat Healthy **
**Be Active**
**Get Fit for Life**

**Notes:**
Remember...
Eat healthy 
Be active
Get fit for life

## Questions? Comments?

**1-877-222-8387**
**TDD 1-800-829-4833**
**www.healthierusveterans.va.gov**** **

**Notes:**
Two toll free numbers have been set up to answers questions from veterans, family members, community members, and others regarding the HealthierUS Veterans initiative: 1-877-222-8387 or TDD 1-800-829-4833. 
A Q & A page is available on the HealthierUS Veterans website (www.healthierusveterans.va.gov/About/FAQs.asp) to provide more information and answer questions regarding the various components of the initiative and how you can become involved. 

Speaker suggestion:
Local contact information could also be added to this slide.