More than a quarter of all Americans between the ages of 17 to 24 are too overweight to join the military, according to a new report highlighted by the Associated Press. That many Americans are too tubby to meet the basic entry requirements for military service isn’t new—in 2008 roughly 12,000 would-be soldiers failed the initial military physical because they were overweight, and last yearthe Pentagon lamented the fact that, between obesity, medical and physical problems, illegal drug use and other issues, 75% of military-age Americans were ineligible for service. That figure is of particular concern to military recruiters working to keep ranks filled as the U.S. carries on two wars. To help recruits slim down to meet basic weight requirements—depending on specific age, about 200 lbs for a man 6′ tall, and around 150 lbs. for a 5’6″ woman—some recruiters have even taken it upon themselves to help whip wannabe soldiers into shape. Yet beyond helping overweight recruits slim down, some military personnel are more concerned with examining how everyone got so heavy in the first place. According to the Associated Press, a group of retired military officers has joined forces to declare high calorie, low nutrition school lunches a threat to national security.
