Obesity and Weight Control Practices in 2000 Among Veterans Using VA Facilities

Abstract

. Obesity and weight control practices in 2000 among veterans using VA facilities. Obes Res. 2005;13:1404 -1411. Objective: To examine obesity prevalence and weight control practices among veterans who use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities (VA users). Research Methods and Procedures: Data from the 2000Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey of 184,450 adults, were analyzed. Outcome measures included BMI, weight control practices (the intent to manage weight, and diet and physical activity patterns), and receipt of professional weight control advice. Results: Of VA users, 44% were overweight and 25% were obese. After controlling for demographic factors, VA users were somewhat less likely to be overweight (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.74 to 1.00) but equally likely to be obese (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.27), compared with non-VA users. Among obese VA users, 75% reported trying to lose weight, and another 17% reported trying to maintain weight. Of these, only 40% decreased both calorie and fat intake. Only 27% of obese VA users who reported increasing exercise to lose weight followed recommendations for regular and sustained physical activity. Of obese VA users, 59% were inactive or irregularly active. Only 51% of obese VA users received professional advice to lose weight. Obese VA users were more likely than obese non-VA users to report trying to lose weight, modifying diet to lose weight by decreasing both calories and fat intake, and receiving professional weight control advice. Discussion: Interventions for weight management programs in VA facilities need to take into account the high prevalence of overweight/obesity among VA users and should emphasize effective weight control practices.

Comparing VA and Non-VA Quality of Care: A Systematic Review

“…Obese VA patients were more than twice as likely to have received advice to lose weight as veterans receiving non-VA care and non-veterans and equally likely to have received advice to maintain weight. 60 Non-Ambulatory Care. In non-ambulatory settings, VA care was generally of similar quality to care provided in non-VA facilities.…”

Inter-Cohort Variation in the Consequences of U.S. Military Service for Men’s Mid- to Late-Life Body Mass Index Trajectories

“…Given that the military carefully screens the health and body weight of those who enlist or are inducted into service (Poston et al 2005;Wolf et al 2013), and early-life weight is a strong predictor of later-life weight (Ferraro et al 2003), veterans might be expected to weigh less and have a lower prevalence of obesity than non-veterans. However, somewhat paradoxically, previous research shows that body weight among veterans is generally similar to or higher than body weight among non-veterans (Almond et al 2008;Wang et al 2005;Teachman and Tedrow 2013).…”

“…In 2005, approximately 12 % of active-duty military personnel had a BMI score of 30.0 or higher, compared to 5 % of active-duty personnel 10 years earlier (Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center 2009) and about 35 % of all adults in the United States (Ogden et al 2012). Despite this apparent active-duty advantage, numerous studies have either found that veteran status is unrelated to body size (Almond et al 2008;Wang et al 2005) or that veterans are more likely to be obese than non-veterans (Koepsell et al 2009;Teachman and Tedrow 2013). However, the research that focuses on military service and weight is mostly descriptive, often focuses on veterans only, and generally does not adequately control for early-life factors that select people into military service (Almond et al 2008;Das et al 2005;Nelson 2006;Rosenberger et al 2011; for an exception, see Teachman and Tedrow 2013).…”

“…However, the research that focuses on military service and weight is mostly descriptive, often focuses on veterans only, and generally does not adequately control for early-life factors that select people into military service (Almond et al 2008;Das et al 2005;Nelson 2006;Rosenberger et al 2011; for an exception, see Teachman and Tedrow 2013). Moreover, some studies focus only on users of Veterans Health Administration services Wang et al 2005), which is a highly selected and disadvantaged segment of the veteran population.…”

MOVE! multidisciplinary programs: Challenges and resources for weight management treatment in VHA

“…The epidemiologic data and medical burden of excess weight is no less significant among U.S. Veterans. Several recent studies of overweight/obesity have indicated high rates in the Veteran population [6][7][8][9]. Almond et al reported that 73.3% of male Veterans had excess weight (BMI≥25) and 25.3% were obese (BMI≥ Policy: VHA policy should support the development of more intensive weight management intervention strategies that complement MOVE!…”