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FacebookOhio among four states in weight-loss study
Military's health-care goal is to find ways to prevent the weight gain. Volunteers being sought.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Ohio is among four states where TRICARE, the U.S. military's health plan for personnel and their dependents, is recruiting overweight adults to participate in a free weight-management study.
Non-active duty TRICARE Prime beneficiaries may be eligible for the HEALTH study, which stands for Healthy Eating and Active Living in TRICARE Households.
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"We are currently recruiting. We have over 1,100 enrolled and we are looking to reach our goal of 3,000 participants," said Julia Kish, HEALTH marketing director for RTI International, which is conducting the study with the Cooper Institute.
The study, also being done in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, will help eligible participants set weight-loss goals, identify weight-loss barriers and stay motivated to lose weight, Kish said.
"What TRICARE is trying to do is determine what level of intervention is most effective, what people would need the most" to achieve their weight loss goals, she said.
Kish said the goal of the study is to provide preventive health options for weight loss. While there are other costlier options such as bariatric surgery, there aren't any preventive ones for beneficiaries, she said.
"Obesity is very expensive and results in higher medical costs" because of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, she said.
The study's success will determine whether a weight-loss plan is offered on a national, even worldwide, scale, she said.
Individuals may be eligible if they are:
• Overweight and have a body mass index of 25 or higher and less than 51 (go to www.dodhealth.org to find your BMI or call toll free (866) 909-4584).
• 18 to 64 years of age.
• One of following: a family member of active duty personnel; a retired service member; the family member of a retiree; or a survivor of a deceased active duty member or retiree.
There are two studies in which people can participate, each with a minimum six-month commitment. One is a randomized control trial; the other more self-driven.
For more information, visit www.dodhealth.org. or call (866) 909-4584.
