Too Fat To Fight
A new report found that more than 40 percent of Virginia’s young adults are too fat to fight in the military. The group of retired generals and admirals behind the report warned members of Congress that the nationwide trend is a threat to national security. Sara Sciammacco reports from Washington.
The state-by-state report found that being overweight is the leading medical reason recruit prospects fail to qualify for service. Lieutenant General Norman Seip says the numbers show that the young adults don’t seem to be getting healthier.
SEIP: Since 1995 the proportion of recruits rejected during their physical exams because they are overweight has increased by nearly 70 percent.
The report shows an obese young adult in Virginia would have to lose an average of 32 pounds in order to be at a normal weight. The retired leaders are members of the non-profit group Mission Readiness. National Director Amy Dawson Taggart is calling on Congress to get junk food and soda out of the nation’s schools.
TAGGART: This is not about looking good in a uniform. It is about being healthy and fit to do the work of the nation.
Congress is expected to debate whether to update nutrition standards in schools this year during reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.
From Capitol News Connection Sara Sciammacco, WCVE News Washington
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