May 23, 2008
Q: I am overweight – severely so. I would like to share with you some of the experiences that I have had here on the base and ask that you share them with everyone. I recently made an appointment to see my family practice provider at the hospital for some shoulder pain that I was having. He did not directly address the shoulder pain, but instead went down a long laundry list of reasons why I should lose weight. I left there feeling as if I should not have even bothered getting medical attention for anything if I don’t get “skinny” first. He suggested that I exercise. I would agree except that when I exercise here on base in a public forum such as the gym, people point and laugh. I bought a bicycle to ride outside with my children and have also worked it into my exercise program. One day while riding, I thought this group of military personnel were going to wet themselves because they were laughing so hard at the sight of me on my bike. That is a response I expect from the high school kids because that is what they do. I would think that an appropriate response would be one of encouragement rather than ridicule. Also - there are not any low impact classes here on base geared for my size. Granted, I realize that I am the minority here, but I know for a fact that there are more overweight people besides me who would be glad to get a program geared toward bringing them toward a healthy lifestyle versus making them so sore that they can’t move. I really can’t expect much to be done but I think it is sad that we as a community are not doing something about this silent minority who would love for people to encourage them rather than discourage them.

A: Thank you for your comment. Health Promotions, part of the U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka Wellness Center located on the 3rd floor of the Fleet Recreation building, assisted by Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Fitness, offers a clinical weight loss program in which Yokosuka residents can join at no cost. After completing a health assessment, individuals attend a two day Life Style Seminar and can participate in an organized circuit training course twice a week. This program is completely free for all residents of Yokosuka who need assistance with weight-loss management. As for MWR Fitness, we offer a variety of low-impact classes throughout the week including: Yoga, Total Body Makeover, Cardio Barbell, Aqua Aerobics, and even Zumba. Personal trainers are also available to accommodate additional training that will allow for a more private setting.