The Tripler LE3AN Program: A Two-Year Follow-Up Report

Abstract

This paper provides a review of 2-year follow-up data on the Tripler Army Medical Center LE3AN Program. The LE3AN Program (emphasizing healthy Lifestyles, reasonable Exercise, realistic Expectations, Emotions, and Attitudes, and Nutrition) provides active duty service members a treatment strategy that involves a reasonable low-intensity exercise regimen, behavior modification, intensive nutritional counseling healthy meal planing, relapse prevention strategies, cognitive coping strategies, and healthy lifestyle principals to lose weight and maintain weight loss. Based on the 2-year data and additional clinical findings, we expand upon earlier preliminary reports. The 2-year follow-up data suggest that the program is a safe and efficacious treatment program.

The Correlates and Treatment of Obesity in Military Populations: A Systematic Review

“…Where comparison is possible [34,35,54], a reduction in reported body fat (Cohen's d = 0.42-0.66) as opposed to body weight (d = 0.14-0.38) or BMI (d = 0.03-0.53) was observed to be more significant. Several of the interventions [26][27][28][29][30]34] could be defined as successful as they produced reductions in body weight beyond that required by the US Institute of Medicine [35] ( 5% of initial body weight). Whilst the most successful (>10% weight loss) interventions [29,30] approach advocated by previous reviews [17,36,37] and classifies correlates as demographic and biological; psychological, cognitive and emotional; dealing with behavioural attributes and skills; social and cultural; dealing with physical environment; or dealing with PA characteristics.…”

“…The existence of dietary modification and diet education was another central topic of most of the interventions and is reflective of recent literature [19,44]. Two studies [24,27] reported the dietary modification applied (male 1,500-2,000 kcal/day , female 1,400-1,600 kcal/day), and these values are broadly in keeping with civilian recommendations [45]. Whilst both studies were successful in reducing body weight, the 'multi-component' nature of the interventions precludes comment as to the efficacy of the individual component.…”

“…The majority of the interventions [24,25,[27][28][29][30][31]34] delivered the intervention through a combination of group and individual therapy; 4 programmes relied on individual, oneto-one treatment; group therapy alone was utilized by 1 intervention [32]. In general the interventions that used a combined approach were more successful.…”

“…All LEAN intervention programmes [23, 25-27, 29, 30] advocated low intensity PA (a target pulse rate of 60-70% of maximum heart rate) for 40 min (Monday to Friday = 200 min/week) [27]. Current recommendations suggest that 45-60 min/day of moderate intensity activity is required to prevent the transition to overweight or obesity and that 60-90 min/day is required for the prevention of weight regain in formerly obese individuals [42].…”

Efficacy of a Pilot Internet-Based Weight Management Program (H.E.A.L.T.H.) and Longitudinal Physical Fitness Data in Army Reserve Soldiers

“…Web site usage because of the anonymous study design, whereas previous studies were able to identify participants. In addition, previous studies utilized group-and/or clinic-based behavioral treatment approaches, 10,14 and exclusively enrolled soldiers exceeding the STW, which resulted in a sample seeking weight loss treatment. By design, our population-based intervention was made available to all Army Reserve soldiers, irrespective of their weight status or intentions concerning weight management.…”