Health programs help Team Kirtland get fit

  • Published
  • By Argen Duncan
  • Nucleus editor
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Once an overweight child, the base's new health promotions program coordinator now considers exercise a fountain of youth and stresses that good health allows Airmen to do their jobs.

Guy Leahy stepped into the position in November, after it had been vacant for some time. He has a master's degree in physical education, certification in exercise physiology as well as strength and conditioning, and 15 years of experience in the field, including time at Davis-Monthan and Edwards Air Force bases.

Leahy can provide information on exercise, weight control, tobacco cessation, stress management, injury prevention and dietary supplements free to anyone affiliated with Kirtland Air
Force Base.

Leahy plans to work with the base's new registered dietician, Kirsten David, to offer nutrition information and programs, including individual diet plans and quarterly cooking classes.

Both can help groups and individuals. While the duo gives priority to active-duty Airmen, National Guard members, spouses, dependents, base and Sandia National Laboratories civilian employees, contractors and veterans are also eligible for the services.

"Broken Airmen cannot fix broken jets," Leahy said. "Broken Airmen cannot deploy. Broken Airmen cannot do their jobs."

He calls Airmen "tactical athletes." A regular athlete who's out of shape may lose a game, Leahy said, but an out-of-shape Airman could lose his life.

He plans to offer classes on health topics, and would like regular contact with first sergeants and other leaders to provide what troops need. Groups can request presentations.
Also, Leahy can work with individuals to develop personalized plans to reach fitness goals.

"The younger we can reach them with these messages, the better off they are," Leahy said.

Still, he continued, the body can become healthier with better habits at any age.

Leahy bases his teaching on scientific evidence. He warned that information people find on the Internet or get from a buddy may be not only incorrect but also dangerous.

"Half the time, what I do is dispel mythologies," Leahy said.

Among the services Leahy can offer is access to the popular Bod Pod, a machine that measures a person's body fat percentage and indicates what it should be, once the Medical Group building remodel reaches a point where the Bod Pod can be brought back online.

Leahy can also provide free exercise prescriptions. A properly designed exercise program shouldn't take a lot of time, and should involve finding physical activity the person enjoys, he said.

"Exercise, in my view, is a fountain of youth," he said. "Exercise is medicine."

Leahy is also concerned about tobacco use, which he said is higher in the military than among the general population.

"That continues to be a challenge because there is nothing good about tobacco use," he said.
 
Leahy encourages Airmen to come to him and David with any healthy lifestyle-related questions. To contact Health Promotions, call 853-2506.