VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System

Men and women learn to incorporate excercise in their daily routine in the MOVE! program at a VA medical center.

To help Veterans get in shape for the summer, VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System offers weight management classes at our clinics and main campus in Leeds.

These classes are part of the VA’s MOVE! program, a national VA initiative designed to help Veterans lose weight, keep it off, and improve their health.  The program emphasizes health and wellness through nutrition and physical activity, behavior change, and focuses on lifestyle. 

The program is designed to help Veterans meet their individual needs, and includes regular follow-up and support. 

So far in 2015, more than 300 Veterans enrolled in the VA Central Western Massachusetts MOVE! program and, together, lost more than 2,500 pounds.  

MOVE! classes are also held during the day at the VA medical center in Leeds and at VA outpatient clinics in Springfield, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Worcester and Fitchburg.  There is no cost associated with these programs.  Veterans must be enrolled in VA health care to participate.

Registration is required to participate in the class.  Veterans who are not enrolled in VA healthcare can call the VA’s Eligibility Office at (413) 582-3091 for information on the application process.  Veterans are also invited to log on to http://www.move.va.gov/ for more information on the MOVE program.

Seth Maas Registered Dietician and MOVE! Program coordinator emphasizes that the program is not a “diet,” but rather a life-long behavior modification that improves a Veteran’s quality of life.
 
“We’re talking about a comprehensive approach to weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight,” said Maas.  “Our program is focused on healthy nutrition, physical activity and psychological well being.”
 
MOVE! is based on guidelines from the National Institutes of Health and Research.  It includes self-management support, individual nutritional counseling with group support, exercise options, and clinically supervised weight-management medications.
 
Currently, about 35 percent of VA primary care enrollees are estimated to be obese and, therefore, at higher risk for chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and osteoarthritis.
 
Positive health changes are common to successful MOVE! program participants.
 
The program not only focuses on weight management, but also looks at other key indicators of healthy living such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Find a class at your nearest VA clinic and register today. Any veterans interested in the program should contact Seth Maas, RD at 1-800-893-1522 ext. 2711.

GREENFIELD: Tuesday, began July 7th @ 1:30pm

FITCHBURG: Tuesday, began July 7th @ 1:30pm (via clinical video telehealth)

NORTHAMPTON: Friday, began July 10th @ 9:00am

PITTSFIELD: Wednesday, began July 8th @ 9:00am

SPRINGFIELD: Tuesday, began July 7th @ 4:30pm or Thursday, July 9th @ 10am (TWO OPTIONS)

WORCESTER: Monday, began June 29th @ 1pm or Tuesday, June 30th @ 10am (TWO OPTIONS)

- MOVE! is a weight management program that helps veterans lose weight, keep it off, and improve their health.

- MOVE! consists of a two-month cycle of hour-long, weekly group classes.

- There is NO copay associated with this program!

- Veterans may bring a support person (such as their husband or wife) to the group classes…we actually encourage it!!!



MOVE! info & Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.445010415563865.105652.140192702712306&type=3

What MOVE! Can Do For You:
www.move.va.gov/WhatMoveCanDoForMe.asp See More— at VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System.