ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The 79th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Health and Wellness Center continues to hold Health and Weight Awareness classes twice a month for servicemembers, dependents, retirees and Department of Defense civilians.
According to Air Force Instruction 10-248, Fitness Program, all Air Force servicemembers must be physically fit to support the Air Force mission. Health benefits from an active lifestyle will increase productivity, optimize health and decrease absenteeism while maintaining a higher level of readiness.
"Fitness is important in order to be fit for duty," said Elizabeth Triner, 79 AMDS HAWC dietitian. "Here at the HAWC, we stress the importance of being not just fit for duty, but also fit for life."
The HAWC offers a variety of mandatory and non-mandatory classes related to healthy lifestyles and healthy weight.
Mandatory classes are typically attended by servicemembers who have unsatisfactory or marginal physical training assessments.
"The Healthy Living program is a two-hour class with one hour devoted to behavior change and goal-setting, facilitated by behavioral medicine," she said. "Thirty minutes is devoted to fitness, facilitated by an exercise physiologist and 30 minutes devoted to nutrition by a registered dietitian."
The Body Composition Improvement Program consists of two 90-minute classes focusing on nutrition.
"BCIP 1 is called Nutrition Strategies and BCIP 2 is called Nutrition into Practice," said Ms. Triner.
Non-mandatory classes are voluntary for personnel who wish to learn more about healthy living and nutrition.
"The Healthy Heart class is a two-hour class that provides information on how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight," said the HAWC dietitian. "These classes are held on a regular basis, typically two times per month. Adult Weight Management classes are two-hour classes that provide information on how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight."
An improper diet may lead to unwanted weight gain.
"Weight management is all about balancing our intake, how much we eat, our output and how much we exercise," said Ms. Triner. "If we eat too much and exercise too little, we'll gain weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk for a number of health problems such as high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and some cancers."
Keeping fit and eating healthy are the key benefits to living a longer and healthier life.
A good way to keep healthy is to keep physically active, said the dietitian.
Consuming a diet comprised of primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy while limiting added sugars and fats is also a way of keeping healthy.
For more information, call the HAWC at 240-857-5601.