Obesity May Put Nation at Risk, Generals Say

[ErikJ]

Obesity May Put Nation at Risk, Generals Say
By David Pittman, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today
Published: September 25, 2012
WASHINGTON -- Many overweight and obese young adults are currently ineligible for U.S. military service which could jeopardize the Armed Forces and national security, according to retired military personnel.

In a report released Tuesday, nearly 200 retired military leaders claimed that 27% of young adults, or at least 9 million 17- to 24-year-olds, are too fat for military service. They called on Congress to take action to reduce the number of vending machines dispensing unhealthy foods in schools.

"Being overweight or obese turns out to be the leading medical reason why applicants fail to qualify for military service," according to the report, called "Too Fat to Fight." The authors pointed out that "otherwise excellent recruit prospects, some of them with generations of sterling military service in their family history, are being turned away because they are just too overweight."

Between 1995 and 2008, the proportion of potential recruits who failed their physicals each year because they were overweight rose nearly 70%, according to Mission: Readiness, a nonpartisan group of retired senior leadership from all armed forces branches. Three-quarters of all young Americans are unable to join the military because they failed to graduate from high school, have criminal records, or are physically unfit.


"Removing the junk food from our schools should be part of comprehensive action that involves parents, schools and communities in helping children make healthy food choices," Coast Guard Admiral James Loy (ret.) said in a news release. "The bottom line is that the armed services must have a sufficient pool of fit young adults to draw from in order to field enough recruits with the excellent qualifications needed to staff a 21st century military."

Specifically, retired military leaders call on Congress to:

.................................

"The health of our children and our national security are at risk," the report authors wrote. "America must act decisively."

http://www.businessinsider.com/generals-were-tired-of-fat-american-children-2012-9

[Arugula Latte]

1. Oh, our cannon fodder is too fat. Darn! Okay, now we should worry about the health of Americans.

[ErikJ]

7. Ironically, the "Nanny state" Liberals turn out to be more patriotic than the flag-wavers.

[arcane1]

2. In comes Sarah Palin with a tray of sugar cookies

[Nay]

3. "Removing the junk food from our schools should be part of comprehensive action that

involves parents, schools and communities" says Admiral Loy. Where was he when said parents screamed and raised hell as schools were filled with that crap just so they could get some extra money from rapacious corporations? Nowhere. Along with all the other enablers of corporate takeover.

Frankly, if the military wants more fodder, it should set out to accept these overweight recruits and spend a year whipping them into shape. We pay the goddam military/industrial complex enough tax money to expect that.

[MNBrewer]

4. Guess that makes fat people traitors, after all, we were warned by the military.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021326268

[WinkyDink]

5. So? It's still voluntary, right? RIGHT?

[Trillo]

6. Obesity and food allergy seem related.

There's online confusion as to which comes first, the allergy, or the related obesity. Food allergy increases the adrenal's cortisol production. Cortisol is a type of glucocorticoid. One of glucocorticoids' side effects include weight gain.

Too much soda, junk food, and not enough exercise? Or too much allergy to something?