News

Robins Airmen say 'no sweat' to BMI initiative

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78 ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  An Air Force Materiel Command initiative released in late 2007 called for Airmen to shrink their Body Mass Index by 10 percent in the first half of 2008.

Robins active-duty military put their minds to it and reduced their BMI by 16.2 percent.

Staff Sgt. Shawn Moore, an aerospace medicine journeyman in the 78th Medical Operations Squadron, had a BMI of 33.

The 27-year-old Texas native now boasts a BMI of 29.4 thanks to a healthier lifestyle and a good support system.

"I really just looked at what I was eating and I cut back a lot of extra things, like eating out," he said. "I looked at the fat content and the carbs that I was eating and cut out sweets. I did a lot of running."

Tech. Sgt. Gabreayl Harris, NCO in charge at the Robins Health and Wellness Center, said other Airmen are also tackling the BMI battle with a new attitude.

Sergeant Harris said Airmen have successfully reduced their BMI through healthy eating and exercise.

The HAWC's extensive classes on healthy living and assistance from an on-staff dietitian, exercise physiologist and nurse educator have been a winning recipe for long-lasting change for Airmen, Sergeant Harris said.

"Right now, everything's going pretty well," Sergeant Harris said. "It was kind of rough early because of the approach individuals took and how they didn't want to do it. Now, it's getting a lot better and I just hope we continue to progress."

Col. Michael Bledsoe, chief of occupational medicine in the 78th Medical Group, said for some people, keeping weight off is the real test.

Approaching weight loss sensibly is the key to keeping it off, Colonel Bledsoe said.

"Find exercise you like doing," he said. "Find foods that you like eating and learn to eat them in reasonable amounts. If your road to weight loss involves misery and deprivation, then I can pretty much guarantee that you're not going to keep the weight off."

Colonel Bledsoe said people should avoid quick result 'fad diets' that offer empty promises.

"I would recommend a good program of a healthy diet and exercise," he said. "Realize that it's likely to be a slow process (and) you can't expect miracles."

Colonel Bledsoe said one of the most dependable ingredients to long-lasting weight loss is persistence.

Sergeant Moore said he has a strong support network to ensure a healthy weight staying power.

"Between my wife and some of my co-workers and friends, I have great support," he said. "My NCOIC is very supportive of me. Our new shirt that just came in got really involved and has been very supportive and encouraged me. Even during (Airman Leadership School) people told me, 'Keep at it. Don't give up.' They encouraged me to keep pressing toward my goal."

AFMC's BMI initiative calls for active-duty Airmen to reduce their BMI rates by an additional 10 percent by January 2009.