VISN 2: Veterans' Wellness, Fall 2011 - VA Health Care Upstate New York

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VA Health Care Upstate New York - VISN 2

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VISN 2: Veterans' Wellness, Fall 2011

Fall 2011

TeleMOVE! Helps You Lose Weight from Home

Miranda B. after losing 25 pounds

Today, about 77 percent of the more than 6 million Veterans VA serves are considered overweight, which increases your risk for diseases and other health problems.

To help Veterans who want to lose weight, keep it off, and improve their health, VA offers a free personalized weight-management program called TeleMOVE!, which you can participate in from your own home.

There are two types of TeleMOVE! programs. When you enroll, a care coordinator will help you select the best program to meet your needs.

The MOVE! Telephone Lifestyle Coaching program is done entirely over the phone. You’ll follow along in a workbook and have scheduled phone appointments with a care coordinator.

The Home Telehealth Weight Management program uses an in-home messaging device, called a Health Buddy, which you use daily to answer questions about your weight and health and learn how to make healthy lifestyle changes.

Our care coordinators are VA nurses and dietitians specially trained to monitor your progress. All equipment and materials you will need are provided free and delivered to you.

Here are stories of two of the 494 Veterans currently enrolled in TeleMOVE! who have had success with the programs.

Roy Narish after losing 46 pounds

Losing Weight for Surgery
Although Veteran Roy Narish was aware of TeleMOVE!, he didn’t look into it until health issues made weight loss a priority.

“I have severe arthritis, and my doctor told me that I needed to lose weight before I could have knee replacement surgery,” Roy says. “I decided to sign up for the MOVE! Telephone Lifestyle Coaching program to get healthier and lose weight.”

Referring to the workbook provided inspired him to improve his eating habits by adding fruits and vegetables and limiting red meat, bread, and pasta, with only an occasional visit to a fast-food restaurant. He was also determined to become more active, despite his arthritis, and started walking twice a week for 30 minutes. After five months, Roy lost more than 40 pounds and reduced his arthritic pain.

“My TeleMOVE! coach called me every week, encouraging me to set goals and giving me information that could help me lose and maintain my weight—like how to read nutrition labels and count calories. I was able to meet with my coach without having to leave my house,” Roy says. “I want to drop another 15 pounds because I like the way I look and feel and want to do even more for my health.”

Program Fits New Lifestyle
When Veteran Miranda B. was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes six years ago, she lost 70 pounds to improve her health. But stress caused her to gain back 30 pounds and her blood sugar levels soared.

Interested in TeleMOVE?
You can sign up in two easy steps:

Complete the MOVE! 23 questionnaire at a VA primary clinic or at www.move.va.gov/move23.asp.
If you enroll online, write down your retrieval code.
Then call TeleMOVE! at 1-877-619-0106 and select option #1.

At her VA primary care provider’s recommendation, Miranda B. joined the Home Telehealth Weight Management program last spring. She said it helped her change her nutritional and exercise habits to fit her new lifestyle. Miranda began a structured walking program and started using stairs instead of taking the elevator. A scheduled weekly weigh-in enabled her to gauge her progress, and regular messages from her TeleMOVE! coach encouraged her to make wise food choices. Today she is 25 pounds lighter and her diabetes is under control.

“I have a busy life and the telephone reminders served as reinforcements and memory joggers that really raised my overall awareness of losing weight,” says Miranda B. “I have more energy; I sleep better; and I am more efficient throughout the day. TeleMOVE! has enhanced my life.”