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Strive for a Healthy Weight

Strive for a healthy weight. Managing your weight helps you stay healthy now and in the future. 

What's Important to Know?

Maintaining a healthy weight can help you feel good and have energy to do the things you want to do. It can also help you prevent and manage many chronic conditions. Overweight and obesity are linked with low energy, pain, poor sleep, and greater risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. If you have a higher body weight, losing 5%-10% of your current weight can help lower your risks for these and other conditions.

A person’s body weight is affected by many factors. These include eating, physical activity, sleep, genes, certain medicines, and where you live, learn, work, and play. Talk with your health care team to find strategies you can use to work towards a healthy weight for you. These may include ways to help you move more, be aware of your hunger signs, manage stress, and track progress.

VA's MOVE!® Weight Management Program for Veterans can help you adopt a healthy lifestyle, meet your health goals, manage your weight, and use tools that help with these changes. VA also offers weight management medicines and surgery for use along with lifestyle changes. Talk with your health care team about options that will help you meet your goals.

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When Striving to Maintain a Healthy Weight, Remember to:

  1. Make a commitment. Start by writing down the reasons you want to manage your weight. Focus on the many benefits you could experience including improved sleep, better mood, decreased pain, improved blood pressure or blood sugar.
  2. Gradually adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Make 1-2 small changes at a time so you can continue with them long-term. 
    • Move more during your day. Try to include at least 2½ hours each week of moderate-intensity activity that makes you breathe a little harder and sweat.
    • Eat when you are hungry, pay attention to when you are full, and seek satisfying foods that you enjoy, such as vegetables and fruit for fiber and lean protein options.
    • Use herbs and spices so you can gradually reduce excess salt, sugar, and dietary fat.
    • Drink enough water to help your body function properly. Drinking 9-13 cups of fluid each day is recommended for most adults.
  3. Develop connections with others and look for purpose and meaning in your life. Do activities that satisfy your social, emotional, and spiritual needs to enhance your overall wellbeing.

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Want to Know More?

If you are interested in weight management and healthy living, contact your VA health care team or local VA health facility. Ask for the MOVE! Program. If you’re not enrolled in VA health care, we recommend that you apply. Your eligibility will be determined during the application process.

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