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‘Fit to Serve’ Act aims to reduce obese military recruits
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In a bipartisan effort to combat the growing trend of obese military recruits unable to serve, United States Senators Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Lisa Murkowski R-Alaska, have introduced the Fit to Serve Act.
The US military discharges more than 1,200 first-term enlistees per year due to an inability to maintain an appropriate healthy weight for service, according to a press release.
“Obesity and obesity-related illnesses are costing us billions of dollars each year to treat. And obesity is more than a health issue — it hurts our national security,” Udall said in a press release. “Nearly three-quarters of all young people are ineligible to serve in the armed forces, often because they cannot meet basic military weight and fitness standards. This bipartisan bill will address this problem in a way that helps young people to be more active and educated about how their choices affect their future.”
The new act will provide support for military leaders who request that their bases’ sports fields, gyms and other facilities be available to youth for physical activity. It will also provide educational information regarding healthy weight and BMI to possible recruits.
“Obesity is the single greatest non-criminal hindrance for our young people seeking to enlist in the armed forces,” Murkowski said in the press release. “We want our young women and men who seek to serve their country to have basic information on what healthy weight means. As parks and recreation budgets are being cut in many communities, often times the local military installations provide an alternative for kids who want a soccer field or track to access for their athletic activities.”
For more information:
Campaign to End Obesity. Accessed May 16, 2013.