BY SAM P.K. COLLINS
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says that more than 165,000 veterans who use its health care services have a body mass index higher than 40, a threshold that interferes with basic physical functions and leads to chronic illness.
Excess weight increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer. Diabetes and obesity have increasingly appeared together, especially in veterans, more than 20 percent of whom classify as diabetics.
Thatâs why the VA has stepped into action to encourage healthy eating habits among its patients while addressing the
root causes of an unbalanced diet and sedentary lifestyle. Since 2013, some branches across the country have hosted nutrition education and cooking classes for retired servicemen and 
women grappling with excess weight. Nearly 150 veterans in Portland, for example, decipher nutritional labels and learn about portion control while watching healthy cooking demonstrations.
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