The U.S. is Getting Too Fat to Fight
April 21, 2010
A report released today by Mission: Readiness–a group of high-ranking retired military officers–warns that the military is facing future recruitment shortages caused by the "dramatic increase of obesity among young people" in the prime recruitment age.
The report–Too Fat to Fight?–warns that the obesity epidemic could threaten the country's national security if it impacts the ability of the military to meet their recruitment goals. Currently, nine million young adults, or 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24 are too fat to join the military. While the report acknowledges that large numbers of potential recruits are rejected for lack of a high school diploma or for having a criminal record, weight issues are now the leading cause of rejection. The report concludes that unless child obesity rates are not reversed, the military will no longer be able to fill its recruitment goals by the year 2030.
The report also notes that obesity doesn't only impact recruitment, as the government is forced to spend tens of millions of dollars per year training replacements for service members discharged due to weight problems.
Mission: Readiness is urging Congress to eliminate junk food and high-calorie beverages from schools, and to develop strategies that will encourage healthier eating and lifestyle in youth.
During World War II the U.S. Military had the opposite problem, as huge numbers of potential recruits were rejected because of stunted growth and other nutrition issues. After the war, military leaders pushed Congress to establish the national school lunch program to help children grow up healthier. The program was established in 1946 as a "measure of national security," according to the bill's language.
