Eglin accepts challenge to battle obesity

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  With obesity becoming an epidemic across America, Air Force Materiel Command has issued a Team Lean Challenge to all members of the command -- to work together, get fit and make a lifestyle change.

The TLC is a six-month health and fitness initiative intended to help people work together to lose weight, get fit and live a better lifestyle.

"Across America, we have become a super-size society," said Regina Groundwater, Health and Wellness Center director. "Remote controls and computers have affected activity levels."

The "Challenge" seeks to reverse that trend through lifestyle changes. People must change those bad habits and focus in getting more exercise and eating right. Instead of eating more and eating quicker, habits have to change to afford a better quality of life by getting plenty of exercise and eating right.

"Being healthy and eating right affects every aspect of life," she said. "We want people to have a better quality of life on and off duty. Everyone benefits."

Here's how it works.

AFMC members who want to participate must go to the Wellness Support Center www.AFMCwellness.com and enroll before the April 16 deadline. The Health and Wellness Center and Civilian Health Promotion Service units across AFMC will then collaborate to collect heights, weights and blood pressures on all participants. No one will be allowed to participate in the challenge unless they have been enrolled and screened before the TLC kickoff date.

During the screening, members must review and sign the safety agreement and to see their provider before beginning the challenge if they have medical issues. They must also agree not to use weight loss supplements or techniques to cause water depletion before weigh-ins. These practices are not safe and are not allowed.

The HAWC or CHPS staff will complete the enrollment process online by assigning all screened members to a five-person team.

"We hear all the time from people 'I know I need to do something,'" said Marilyn Leggett, Civilian Health and Promotion Services nurse. "Programs like this create the opportunity for people to 'do something' about it."

"Team Lean is about encouraging healthy habits, slow weight loss is the most effective type of weight loss," said Kathy Fields, nurse educator at the HAWC. "Fast weight loss usually results in a quick gain back, because no new habits are established. We want people to lose fat mass."

The HAWC or CHPS staff will enter the initial, the mid-term (three month) and final participant (six-month) data in a standardized database. Only the designated representative will have access to this data. Aggregated (without names) reports from the data will be provided to AFMC. Local reports will be pulled to identify the winning team and unit. AFMC will identify the winning installation.

"The benefits fosters teamwork and is a direct manifestation of the Wingman culture," said Col. Dean Clemons, 96th Air Base Wing commander. "Common goals can lift everyone to achieve personal goals that one may not be able to achieve alone. Learning to lose a few pounds with a health coach and a team cheering is just a great healthy thing to do."

Beyond the award of a new healthy lifestyle and a trimmer waist line, awards will be provided to all that complete the challenge. The winning team will be selected based on percentage of weight lost. The winning unit will be based on total pounds of weight lost/number of people in the unit. Ties will be broken with percent completing the challenge.

The Eglin HAWC screening hours are on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 7 until 9 a.m. and 3:30 until 4:30 p.m. For more information, call the HAWC at 883-8021.