Development of an internet/population-based weight management program for the U.S. Army

Area of Science:

• Military health
• Public health interventions
• Obesity prevention

Background:

• A significant number of Army soldiers exceed or approach maximum weight allowances.
• Current interventions focus on individual soldiers, not the entire population.
• A new approach is needed to address widespread weight issues in the Army.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Healthy Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle Training Headquarters (H.E.A.L.T.H.) program.
• To describe the rationale, components, and promotion strategies of the H.E.A.L.T.H. program.
• To provide a population-based intervention for weight management in soldiers.

Main Methods:

• Development of the H.E.A.L.T.H. program, a population-based intervention.
• Creation of a dedicated website aligned with Army fitness and weight control standards (AR 600-9, FM 21-20).
• Implementation of a health promotion program including media advertisements and grassroots efforts to encourage website utilization.

Main Results:

• The H.E.A.L.T.H. program website offers personalized planning tools and progress tracking for fitness, caloric intake, and lifestyle changes.
• The health promotion component aims to raise awareness and facilitate program adoption among soldiers and their families.
• The program targets both overweight soldiers and those nearing overweight status.

Conclusions:

• The H.E.A.L.T.H. program provides an innovative, population-based strategy for Army weight management.
• This program aims to promote weight loss and prevent weight gain across the soldier population.
• Effective promotion strategies are crucial for the successful utilization of the H.E.A.L.T.H. program.