Tricare launches healthy choices for life programs Published April 7, 2006 FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) -- Take care of your body, and it will take care of you, say health experts. In today’s fast-paced world, they also say that is getting harder to do. Being overweight, using tobacco products and excessive drinking go against this adage and can cause serious health problems and possibly early death. The military community is not immune to the health issues these activities can cause. Tricare Management Activity, the Department of Defense agency responsible for the health care of 9.2 million beneficiaries, has created two demonstration projects and a pilot program to test multiple education and prevention initiatives designed to help service members and their families battle the dangerous effects of obesity, tobacco use and excessive drinking. Tricare plans to launch weight management, tobacco cessation and alcohol programs within the coming months. These projects will involve servicemembers and their families who volunteer to participate. "Weight management, tobacco cessation and the responsible use of alcohol are health priorities targeted by the Department of Defense for active education and prevention," said Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and director of Tricare. The demonstration projects will span three years and the pilot program will cover two years from start-up. They will help identify ways to deliver the best possible benefit for Tricare beneficiaries. Demonstration programs or pilot project participation criteria: Weight management demo project: Non-active duty Tricare prime beneficiaries ages 18 to 64 not receiving Medicare or enrolled in the Tricare extended care health option and living within 50 miles of the research centers in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.Tobacco quitline demo project: Tricare Prime beneficiaries ages 18 to 64 not receiving Medicare or enrolled in the extended care health option and living near military treatment facilities in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Minnesota. Alcohol prevention pilot program: Active-duty servicemembers ages 21 to 25 assigned to the following installations: Hurlburt Field, Fla., Fort Bliss, Texas, Fort Sill, Okla., Norfolk Naval Base, Va., Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, S.C., and Camp Pendleton, Calif. The projects are scientifically based studies that will help the DOD determine the effectiveness of behavior-modification programs that may be used throughout the military health system. "Preventing these unhealthy behaviors is critical to the readiness of our forces and the health of our nation as a whole," Dr. Winkenwerder said. "I am pleased by the successful programs already in place in the military services and the innovative approaches to prevention, education and treatment that Tricare is pursuing for their families.". For more information about the project launch dates, visit Tricare's Web site at www.tricare.osd.mil/healthychoices .