Eat2Live: Eglin's Healthy Weight Program

  • Published
  • By Ilka Cole
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eglin Hospital introduced a new program called Eat2Live August 26. Eat2Live is a collaboration between Health Promotion, Nutritional Medicine and behavioral health specialists.  These experts combined their knowledge to provide instruction on weight management.

To make up the new comprehensive weight management class, the Health Promotion's "Better Body, Better Life" class was merged with nutritional medicine classes, and individual appointments with behavioral specialists.

"We wanted to eliminate the confusion from having several programs with different requirements. This meets everybody's needs," said Alison DeCaro, Eglin's health promotion coordinator.

The two-part program consists of 12, one-hour modules on healthy weight management topics provided by subject matter experts. Participants can attend classes and make their appointments in any order after they complete the first five basic modules.

"After they [participants] complete the first set, Better Choices/Traction, Nutrition, Carbs, Planning and Fitness, they will choose seven of eight choices in the second set of modules," she said.

The second set of modules provides in-depth nutritional medicine topics and individual appointments with behavioral specialists. This allows the participants to tailor their program to fit their needs. Participants can call these clinics directly to set up appointments. Subjects range from healthy hearts, healthy weigh, supplement safety, sports nutrition, goal setting and maintenance.

"It's really their program. They choose how and when they want to do it," said the health promotion coordinator.

Active duty service members who do not meet their abdominal measurement requirements can also benefit from the education and support the healthy weight program provides. It is not mandatory, but a resource to guide them on the proper course for success. 

"The service member has to re-test in 90 days. If they complete the modules well in advance of the 90 days, this is going to help them," said DeCaro. "They can incorporate what they are learning in those 90 days."

Anyone interested in the program can enroll with a referral from their primary care manager or through self-referral.

The program is open to all TRICARE beneficiaries. For information call 883-8020 to speak to the health promotion coordinator.