MOVE! program changing veterans' lives through wellness
The VA's MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans continues to demonstrate significant health outcomes for participants, particularly through its Alumni Maintenance Group model at facilities like the Orlando VA Healthcare System's Viera, Florida outpatient clinic. Veterans in these ongoing support groups report sustained weight loss, improved diabetes markers including lower A1C levels, better blood pressure control, and lasting lifestyle changes that extend well beyond initial program completion.
MOVE! is a national VA weight management program designed to help veterans lose weight, keep it off, and improve their overall health through education about nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral change. The program is available at VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics across the country, offering both in-person and telehealth options through VA Video Connect. Unlike commercial weight loss programs, MOVE! is provided at no cost to enrolled veterans and emphasizes long-term lifestyle intervention rather than quick fixes, with maintenance groups designed to provide ongoing support after veterans complete the initial program phases.
The program is open to veterans enrolled in VA healthcare who meet clinical criteria for weight management support. While the source article highlights participants at the Viera, Florida clinic, MOVE! operates nationwide and serves veterans across all disability rating levels who are eligible for VA medical care. The maintenance groups specifically serve veterans who have completed the core MOVE! curriculum, whether recently or years ago, allowing them to continue receiving support and accountability as they work to sustain healthy habits over time.
Veterans participating in the Viera maintenance group reported concrete health improvements, including one veteran losing an additional 20 pounds while maintaining low A1C levels, another losing 17 percent of starting body weight, and a participant reducing A1C from 6.0 to 5.4 over two years. Program coordinator Kristin Van Workum oversees the Alumni Maintenance Group, which meets monthly and brings together veterans at different stages of their weight management journeys. The program incorporates perspectives from mental health and adaptive sports alongside traditional nutrition and exercise education, with materials specifically designed for the maintenance phase.
For disabled veterans, MOVE! addresses a critical intersection between service-connected conditions and overall health management. Many service-connected disabilities limit mobility or contribute to weight gain through medication side effects, pain-related inactivity, or metabolic changes, making structured weight management support particularly valuable. Improved diabetes control, lower blood pressure, and sustained weight loss can reduce the severity of existing conditions and potentially prevent secondary health complications that further impact quality of life and independence.
Veterans interested in MOVE! should discuss enrollment with their VA primary care provider during their next appointment or contact their local VA medical center to ask about MOVE! availability and whether in-person, telehealth, or hybrid participation options exist at their facility. Those already enrolled in VA healthcare can inquire about joining maintenance groups even if they participated in MOVE! years ago, as the program welcomes veterans at any stage of their weight management journey who want ongoing community support and accountability.