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MOVE! Weight Management Program

We offer easy-to-follow weight management plans backed by the latest science. Our experts can help you reduce health risks, prevent or reverse some diseases and live a better—and even longer—life.

The MOVE! Weight Management Program is a national VA program to help you lose weight, keep it off and improve your health. 

  • Emphasis on health and wellness through nutrition, physical activity and behavior change
  • Lifetime and lifestyle focus with achievable goals
  • Tailored to meet your individual needs
  • Regular follow-up and support

Eligibility

MOVE! is available to VA-enrolled Veterans with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater, who feel they can benefit from MOVE! and who are motivated to make lifestyle changes.

Optional enrollment is available for Veterans 70 years or older, or those at a BMI less than 30 without co-morbid conditions.

Ask your doctor

Appointments with MOVE! staff can be requested at any time. Ask your doctor or nurse about the program. Once you're connected with the MOVE! program, staff can review your progress and discuss strategies. Visits with a dietitian, behavioral health expert or fitness specialists are also available.

Give us a call

If you have questions, call us at .

Or contact your local clinic

Enrollment

  1. Complete the MOVE 11 questionnaire.

  2. Print the patient report.

  3. Bring the printed patient report or the retrieval code (located at the top of the first page of the report) to your first visit with MOVE! staff.

Our MOVE! Program offers a variety of services: 

  • Group or individual care utilizing various communication methods. This includes traditional in-person visits, telephone care, email and telehealth.
  • Weight loss medications.
  • MOVE! Advanced Day Program or bariatric surgery may be provided along with self-management support. These options require extensive screening and you must meet certain requirements.

Self-management support

Start SMART introductory visit

Introduces VA weight management and nutrition services. You will learn about healthy eating, exercise and goal setting, and develop an initial treatment plan that serves as the starting point to better health.

Minneapolis VA medical center

  • In-person: Minneapolis VA medical center offers in-person groups 1-2 times per week. Call the MOVE! Program at to schedule.
  • Video classes using VVC: Online video-based classes are held twice a week using VA Video Connect (VVC). Call the MOVE! Program at to schedule.

Minneapolis VA community clinics

  • VA community-based clinics offer in-person or telehealth classes. Class days and times vary by location. Contact your local clinic for more information.

Group sessions

Outpatient group sessions are a great way to learn more about a healthy lifestyle while getting support from others. MOVE! offers a variety of group options.

  • MOVE! Group Lifestyle Coaching class series
    • Meet with a coach and fellow MOVE members to discuss topics related to nutrition, exercise and behavior change for weight loss success.
    • Over the course of six months, you will develop new skills for making healthy lifestyle changes. Through a variety of discussion topics and a team approach, you'll learn to resist temptations, self-monitor, problem solve, and make healthy choices that are designed to last a lifetime!
    • Groups meet in-person at the medical center and VA community clinics. VVC classes are also available.
    • Call MOVE! At or contact your local clinic to learn more.
    • Download the full workbook or individual modules.
  • Support groups
    • Support groups give you a chance to share with other Veterans who face the day-to-day challenges of weight management.
    • These groups are designed for Veterans who have finished other MOVE! options.
    • Support groups are offered at the Minneapolis VA medical center. Call MOVE! at to learn more.
       
  • Mindfulness program
    • The Stress Reduction through Mindfulness program uses mindfulness meditation techniques to help you overcome stress. This is an eight-week, meditation-based course for people with health problems, including obesity.
    • Call for more information.

Individual visits

Meet with one or more of our qualified MOVE! staff to discuss your weight loss barriers and develop strategies to help you make lifestyle changes to improve your health and reduce your weight.

  • Weight loss coaching
    • Meet with a MOVE! coach to discuss weight management and review material from the MOVE! Veteran workbook.
    • Pairs individual sessions (in-person or virtual) with regular secure messaging updates to help you stay on track.
    • Call MOVE! at to learn more.
  • TeleMOVE!
    • In-home telephone messaging tool to support self-management of weight loss. On a daily basis it provides information, poses questions, and prompts you to refer to a workbook provided as part of the treatment.
  • Individual sessions
    • This program consists of meeting with a MOVE! dietitian in clinic. You will record your food intake and physical activity, and develop a weight loss plan tailored to fit your needs.

Independent options

  • Annie app: Text message capability to promote self-care when you're enrolled in VA health care. Use with any mobile phone or device that connects to the internet. Automated text messages are sent to prompt you to track your own health.
  • MOVE! Coach mobile app: Easy-to-use, self-guided program that provides everything you need to set, track and achieve weight loss goals. Available on both Android and Apple devices.
  • Secure messaging via My HealtheVet:
    • Web-based message system that allows you and your VA health care team to communicate non-urgent health related information. Our team name is MSP MOVE! Program HPDP.
    • To sign up for My HealtheVet register at www.myhealth.va.gov. Contact to learn more about My HealtheVet and secure messaging.

Advanced care options

Weight loss medications

Weight loss medications work best when combined with changes to eating and activity habits. There must be a willingness to use the medications as part of a weight loss plan and MOVE! Program participation is highly recommended. Further evaluation will be needed. Please contact your primary care provider or pharmacist if interested. 

Advanced Day Program

For Veterans who have completed an initial MOVE! option and meet specific eligibility criteria. Participants attend weight management classes for a half-day, once per week for six weeks. You will be required to keep a food log and weigh daily during the program. Call for more information and to discuss eligibility.

Bariatric surgery

Weight loss surgery is for Veterans who continue to struggle with their weight after trying other weight loss methods or have an obesity-related disease. Interested candidates must meet criteria and complete initial steps prior to being considered for a bariatric surgery evaluation. Call for more information.

If you are approved to start the bariatric surgery pathway you will meet with our team over several visits to fully prepare yourself for life after surgery.