New Navy Program Help Sailors, Family Members Get “Ship Shape”
By Ronald Bolton, USNH Yokosuka

Many of us really do need to lose a few pounds, boost our fitness level and put a serious bridle on our eating habits. However, doing that is not as easy as it might seem as we have seen with increasing rates of obesity and associated medical problems throughout the United States. To combat those trends the Navy has established a new program called Ship Shape.

Ship Shape is a weight management program approved by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. This eight-week program is designed specifically to help active duty personnel meet the Navy body composition standards. On board Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, the program is available to anyone who is eligible to receive services at U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka. Priority access will be given to active duty Sailors who exceed or are in danger of exceeding the Navy body composition assessment standard. The program is provided through USNH Yokosuka Health Promotions Department located on the third floor of the James D. Kelly Fleet Recreation Center.

During each of the eight weekly sessions, participants will be instructed on a variety of topics such as weight management, healthy nutrition, physical activity and psychology of weight loss. Each session builds upon the lessons learned in previous meetings. The goal of Ship Shape is to provide the tools necessary for individuals to make long-term, healthy lifestyle changes which will enable them to better manage their weight.

Although Ship Shape is not mandatory, voluntary participation can serve to augment a command’s fitness enhancement program. All command fitness leaders are encouraged to refer personnel with weight management issues to this comprehensive, science-based weight management program.

Active duty personnel interested in participating in Ship Shape will need a recommendation and referral from their command fitness leader. For all others who would like to participate in Ship Shape, simply contact the USNH Yokosuka Health Promotions Department at 243-9776 to make arrangements or for more information.

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