As American media consistently accuse Russia and China as being the biggest threats to the US, it turns out the US army is struggling with a much more mundane threat right on its own doorstep: low eligibility numbers brought about by poor health and rampant obesity.
A study published earlier this week by the Council for a Strong America revealed that a whopping 71 percent of young people between 17-24 are unfit for military service because of medical reasons, with obesity disqualifying 31 percent of potential recruits.
"Obesity has long threatened our nation's health. As the epidemic grows, obesity is posing a threat to our nation's security as well," states the new report, cited by MedicalXpress.com.
"Given the high percentage of American youth who are too overweight to serve, recruiting challenges will continue unless measures are taken to encourage a healthy lifestyle beginning at a young age," states the study, entitled "Unhealthy and Unprepared."
Other reasons for disqualification are prior use drugs or lack of required academic qualifications.
"I saw it myself: pudgy soldiers visibly pushing, or beyond, the ‘height and weight' standards," retired Army Major General Jeffrey Phillips wrote in a Military Times commentary.
According to Phillips, the military spends over $1.5 billion every year treating obesity-related health conditions, as well as on filling positions vacated by unfit troops. Besides that significant expenditure, US Army bases are equipped with top-notch gyms.
"Basic training lasts weeks, but building strong troops takes years. Encouraging healthy lifestyles early in life will help our nation prepare for future challenges," retired Air Force General Richard Myers said.
The United States leads the world in obesity, with the overweight rate in 2017 at 38.4 percent, according to a report by the Paris-based Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development.
