The recent success of the Defense Health Agency’s 5210 Healthy Children and Recess Before Lunch programs has led to creation of Healthcare to Health (H2H), a new health and wellness initiative for military children. The H2H program was influenced by a study conducted by the Diabetes Prevention Program, and is supported by the American Diabetes Association. H2H is also based on “Let’s Go,” a nationally recognized, evidence-based childhood obesity prevention program.  

“The H2H initiative is being implemented by the Air Force Medical Service, and  emerged from a TRICARE/Health Affairs directive to develop a program that would address concerns with obesity and tobacco use within the beneficiary population,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Donna Smith, deputy chief for Air Force Health Promotion for the Air Force Surgeon General’s office. 

MacDill (Florida), Mountain Home (Idaho), Peterson (Colorado), Scott (Illinois), Shaw (South Carolina) and Tinker (Oklahoma) Air Force bases are serving as pilot facilities for H2H. Results at these bases will help gauge the program’s effectiveness in reducing obesity, increasing physical activity and improving nutritional options for military children.  

“H2H will be implementing two programs as part of the initiative. The first is Group Lifestyle Balance, a program designed to delay or prevent the onset of Type-2 Diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adults. The second is 5210 Healthy Children, which promotes five fruits and vegetables per day, two hours of screen time or less, one hour of active play, and zero sugar-sweetened beverages.” 

The 5210 Program was previously employed at Yokota Air Base, Japan and has been introduced to military installations in the United States through a partnership between the DoD’s Military Community and Family Policy office and Penn State University. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) are also participating. 

“With a considerable number of children not being as active as they should, we want to inspire them to get moving, eat better, and learn the importance of making good lifestyle choices early in life,” said Regina Watson, program manager for H2H. The H2H program will include an “artist’s spotlight,” where children submit drawings that describe ways the program has influenced their lives. “Programs like H2H can show children and their parents there are many good options available to them, and perhaps change the current trend of young people not getting enough daily physical activity.” 

Smith believes H2H will enjoy long-term success similar to Recess Before Lunch, a program which aims to improve the health and behavior of children by having them be more active before lunchtime, and then eating more fruits and vegetables. “When you watch TV, you see a number of fast-food chains, clothing lines and leisure parks targeting young people in commercials, it’s clear that young people have a profound influence on consumer choices a family makes,” she said. “With that said, we’ve seen the success that the Recess Before Lunch program has had, and how it has altered the dietary choices of children in a positive way with children eating more healthy food, and consuming more of their lunch, which in turn means there is less waste to discard after lunch.”