Jeniece Pettitt
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called the obesity study “a wake up call” for the U.S.
WASHINGTON — A new study shows that nine million, or 27 percent, of 17- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. are too fat to serve in the military- an epidemic that is causing military leaders to take action.
During Congressional hearings in 1945, concerns were voiced that nearly 40 percent of military recruits were turned away due to poor nutrition during World War II. Stunted growth from malnutrition kept men from serving their country. This caused Gen. Lewis Hershey to delivery testimony that helped launch the National School Lunch Program in 1946, a program aimed at increasing the height and weight of young people. Today’s it’s the opposite problem.
A report released Tuesday by Mission: Readiness, a non-profit organization of more than 100 retired military leaders, highlights the challenges the military has in preparing the next generation of soldiers to serve. Since 1995, the proportions of recruits rejected during their physical exams because they are overweight has increased by 70 percent.
“It has been shown that for the first time in our history, the health of children today is worse than that of their parent,” said Brig. Gen. Clara Adams-Ender (Ret.). “To reverse this trend, something must be done now.”
The report also showed that, for a variety of reasons, 75 percent of young Americans are unable to join the military. Being overweight is the leading medical reason for rejection. Other disqualifies include criminal records, drug use and lack of education.
“This is not just a national security issue, it is also an education issue, an educational performance issue and a health issue,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at a press conference. “The reality of the fact that so many youngsters are not fit for military service is indeed a wake-up call for this country.”
The group came to Capitol Hill to urge Vilsack, and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to beef up the Child Nutrition Act in the following ways:
- Remove junk food and high-calorie beverages from U.S. schools.
- Develop school programs to educate students and parents to adopt healthier life-long exercise and eating habits.
- Support the administration’s proposal of an increase of $1 billion per year for 10 years for programs that would enhance nutrition standards, improve quality of of meals served in schools and enable more child to have access to these programs.
Not only does the military support these measures, but a 2010 national survey of 1,001 American adults showed that 83 percent support expanding the act to “provide healthier food and cover more kids,” according to the Child Nutrition Initiative.
“It’s a sad irony that while we work to address hunger and food insecurity among nearly 20 percent of our overall population, nearly one-third of our children are overweight or obese,” said Lugar.
A Senate committee passed child nutrition legislation earlier this year. Luger said the new rules make “great strides” in addressing obesity by getting junk food out of schools and improving the quality of meals.
“It’s imperative that we get a robust bill through the Congress this year,” Vilsack said.