Officials launch 'Healthy Choices for Life' program Published Jan. 28, 2005 By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Defense Department officials are launching a new preventive health-care program called "Healthy Choices for Life," the department's senior medical adviser said here Jan. 26.The purpose of the Tricare-managed program is "to put information in the hands of individual servicemembers and family members so that they can change their behavior," said Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.The program will focus on persuading people to quit smoking, moderate drinking habits, exercise and lose weight, he said.Adopting more moderate health habits enables people "to avoid bad health outcomes and bad health problems" like lung cancer, emphysema, liver and brain damage, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, Dr. Winkenwerder said.He said about $13 million has been budgeted to fund pilot programs over the next few years. Some features of the pilot projects under consideration include toll-free smoking and drinking cessation phone lines and dedicated Web sites touting healthier lifestyles, he said.Dr. Winkenwerder said the program is envisioned as a DOD-wide and -managed endeavor rather than separate programs run by each armed service.For more information about the program, visit www.tricare.osd.mil/healthychoices/.