New nutrition class launching at Hanscom

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
A new Air Force-wide weight management and nutrition class will soon launch here. Called "Better Body, Better Life," the free class aims to help participants learn how to achieve better health through hands-on activities and facilitated discussion.

Better Body, Better Life, which is hosted by the Health and Wellness Center, begins Oct. 18 and will meet for five consecutive weeks. Dietitian Annemarie Pease will lead the class on Thursday of each week from 3 to 4 p.m. in the HAWC classroom.

"This is a very comprehensive class and I'm excited about teaching it," said Pease. "I think if people commit and stick with it for the five weeks, they will see the benefits. They can get ideas about what to do day-to-day in terms of healthy living. This class is a great place to start a lifestyle change."

Pease said participants will be weighed during the first class and, throughout the five weeks, will learn how to set small, obtainable goals. They will also be held accountable throughout the course and be weighed at the end to measure their progress.

"People will have to track their food intake throughout the week," she said. "When they come in each Thursday, we'll look at the intake and decide if any changes need to be made."

Attendees will also receive handouts, resources and educational materials.

Throughout the course, participants will learn about dining out, portion control, healthy cooking substitutes, healthy snacking, recipe modification and more.

"We'll also do an activity where each person can go home and evaluate the contents of their pantry," Pease said. "We'll even go into how stress, hormones and sleep patterns can affect behavior, diet and exercise. It really covers the full spectrum of health."

Another aspect of the class that Pease is excited about is its hands-on emphasis. She added that there will be very few slides and charts.

"We'll be putting it in your hands," she said. "For example, we'll take a typical meal at a fast food restaurant and measure out the fat content using Crisco. That way, people can actually see what's going into their bodies."

There will also be an exercise component. In the future, classes may also be extended to allow for a half hour of exercise.

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2010, more than one-third of adults and almost 17 percent of youth were obese in 2009-2010.

"Obesity is an issue across the board," said Pease. "This is one way to tackle it."

Although the target population for Better Body, Better Life is active duty military members, anyone may sign up to participate. The maximum number for the class is 12 people. A wait list will be available for anyone who is not enrolled in the first five-week course. The class will be offered consistently throughout the year.

Those interested must register by Oct. 9 by calling 781-225-6376.