Is Obesity a National Security Threat?

According to the Pentagon, 75% of young Americans are unable to serve in the U.S. military due to being physically unfit, not having a high school diploma or having a criminal record. 27% of prospective applicants cannot join because they are overweight; making weight factors the single biggest factor in limiting potential recruits.

Child obesity rates have tripled in the last 30 years. 1 in 3 American children ages 10-17 are overweight or obese. The White House has taken notice and so have many retired admirals and generals who have formed Mission: Readiness. (www.missionreadiness.org)

To add to this impending crisis, our current troops are gaining weight at an alarming rate. The number of troops diagnosed with being overweight or obese has more than doubled since the start of the war in Iraq.

According to a Defense Department study, from 1998 to 2002, 1 to 2 out of every 100 servicemen was diagnosed as overweight or obese. By 2003, nearly 1 in every 20 servicemen was diagnosed as overweight or obese. Stress and readiness for deployment are the most frequent cited reasons for gaining weight.

Obesity issues that affect the general public, such as fast-food restaurants and popular sedentary activities such as video games, are also affecting military personnel.

"Overweight/obesity is a significant military medical concern because it is associated with decreased military operational effectiveness," according to the January edition of the Defense Department's Medical Surveillance Monthly Report.
If the chronic illnesses increase in health care dollars, decreased life expectancy and the other myriad of maladies that affect us with each increasing percentage of obesity don’t get our attention, decreased military effectiveness and increased national security risks should.

What are you going to do to fight this epidemic in our country?

- Tiffany Norris, MSN, RN, BC, PMHNP
Bariatric Nurse Coordinator

Sources: Washington Post, Mission: Readiness.