Nearly seven in 10 active-duty military personnel are obese or overweight, a report says.
Researchers found that military obesity rates have doubled in the past decade from 10.4 percent in 2012 to 21.6 percent in 2022, and that approximately two-thirds of active-duty service members across all branches of the armed forces are overweight or obese.
Only 31 percent – ??or less than a third – were a healthy weight.
Obesity also appears to be the cause of a growing recruitment crisis, with one in four applicants being rejected because of their weight. It has been the leading cause of rejections for more than a decade.
Experts from the American Security Project in Washington DC, who conducted the study, called the escalating crisis “particularly alarming” and warned that it was damaging the country’s ability to defend itself.
The publication of the study comes at a time of global unrest and armed escalation, which could see US military operations intensify in the future.
Researchers found that military obesity rates have doubled in the past decade, from 10.4 percent in 2012 to 21.6 percent in 2022
The above shows the proportion of active duty soldiers who are underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese at different stages of training
Obesity rates in the military have risen in line with the civilian population. But experts say the military’s rate is skewed downward because it tends to be much younger than the general population
For the report, researchers collected official data on the body mass index (BMI) of active duty service members.
This is taken from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC), which annually collects data on the health of all armed forces.
It calculates BMI by dividing a soldier’s weight by his height – which gives an estimate of body fat percentage.
However, the measure is imperfect and often marks people with greater muscle mass as overweight, but is still used as the “best option” not only in the military, but also in daily medical evaluations and tests for Americans around the world. the country.
Data on recruits came from Medical Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) figures.
Of the various branches of the military, the Navy was the toughest, with 27 percent of sailors falling into this category.
The report also said that in the Air Force, 11 percent were considered obese.
Separate data showed the Army had the second highest obesity rate at 17 percent, while in the Marine Corps – the most elite force – eight percent of recruits were classified as obese.
According to the report, obesity rates increased as soldiers grew older, with 15 percent obese by age 21.
But by age 35, the report shows that this percentage rises to 28 percent.
The report, led by military expert Courtney Manning, adds: ‘The growing prevalence of obesity among service members is reducing the readiness of the all-volunteer military.
“But it’s not a moral failure; it is a health crisis.”
She added: “Framing obesity as a matter of insufficient willpower or discipline prevents soldiers from seeking and receiving treatment, makes commanders and health care workers less likely to intervene, and worsens health outcomes across the services.”
Soldiers marked as overweight or obese are given a weight management program.
In the military, soldiers are instructed to lose a certain number of pounds each month and be reweighed every six months until the standard is met. In the Navy’s “ShipShape” program, participants attend group sessions to teach them about a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Those who do not meet weight standards will not be eligible for promotion, transfer, re-enrollment, or enrollment in professional schools.
If soldiers fail to lose weight within six to 12 months, they may be asked to leave military service.
The report also warns of rising obesity rates in the US as a whole, With more than four in ten adults now obese, this is also causing a growing recruitment problem.
An estimated 71 percent of Americans now are ineligible for active duty.
Data shows the Army missed its recruitment target by 15,000 soldiers (or 25 percent) in 2022, after aiming to recruit 60,000 troops.
The Navy missed its target by 7,450 – or 20 percent – ??of the 37,700 it aimed to recruit.
The number of obesity-related disqualifications has increased in recent years as the number of obese U.S. military personnel has doubled within a decade
The above shows the prevalence of obesity among female and male soldiers
Above are the most common reasons why people were excluded from the armed forces in 2017
The The Air Force failed to meet its goal by 2,700 – or 10 percent – ??of the 26,877 officers it set out to recruit.
The Marine Corps was the only part of the military to meet its goal, surpassing it by 21 people for a total of 33,323 new recruits.
Obesity has been the most common reason for rejected military applications for more than a decade, causing poor recruitment rates.
Those who want to join the military but don’t meet weight standards can also participate in a program to help them get in shape.
This includes guides like the Air Force Aim High app, which offers nutrition and fitness plans to help hopeful recruits take a course that mimics a military boot camp.
Matthew Wallin, the Chief Operating Officer at the ASP, said: ‘At a time when we are struggling to recruit sufficient workers into the armed forces, the growing rates of obesity are particularly alarming.
“No one who defends our country should be left without support and equipment to fight a personal battle against obesity.”
To resolve the crisis, the report recommended that the military treat obesity within the armed forces as a “chronic disease.”
It said all service members with obesity should be immediately referred to an obesity physician, registered dietitian or bariatric physician for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
It also proposed rescinding the policy that allows commanders to exempt obese troops from intervention and treatment to reduce their waistlines.
The report states that the military’s obesity crisis has been “underreported” in many cases because commanders and soldiers “consistently attempt to present measurements in the most favorable light possible.”
This includes classifying those who are medically exempt as “within medical standards” – even if they are obese.