CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – For a few soldiers, weight control is a constant struggle and can be challenging for someone who is trying to maintain military height and weight standards.
Third Army, with the help of the 230th Sustainment Brigade, Tenn. National Guard, operates a Wellness Center here that gives service members the opportunity to understand their current physical state, as well as develop a plan to achieve physical fitness goals.
“We check body composition by using the Body Stat machine which measures body fat, lean muscle and hydration levels,” said Sgt. Stephen Sheppard, non-commissioned officer in charge and native of Goodlettsville, Tenn. “We also measure individual metabolic rate and calculate results to create a diet plan.”
Service members also receive a comprehensive report from an indirect calorimeter, which estimates the number of calories used per day and the amount of calories needed for daily consumption in order to lose or maintain weight.
Troops are instructed to fast for 4 hours (water only), not to exercise six hours prior to coming in, and not to use tobacco products, gum, mints or mouthwash.
“During the visit, service members height and weight is recorded, body fat composition is measured and a 10 minute test on the indirect calorimeter is taken,” said Spc. Kassidy King-Taylor, wellness center technician assigned to the 230th Sustainment Brigade and native of Memphis, Tenn.
After testing, Sheppard and King-Taylor provides a coaching session to review results and help setup personal physical fitness goals.
“This is a really great program,” said Sheppard. “Everyone who has put forth the effort has achieved their goals or made significant progress.”
One of Sheppard’s success stories was an individual who lost 38 pounds.
“I’ve seen people turn their life around after doing this program,” said King-Taylor.
Through the Wellness Center program, Third Army/ARCENT continues to promote the importance of physical fitness and healthy living to sustain service members’ readiness.
The wellness center is open Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and no appointments are required. For more information contact the Wellness Center at 430-7902 or grp.ARF.wellness_center@kuwait.swa.army.mil.