Pig Waller
2010-05-01 01:20:54 UTC
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2010/04/29/AR2010042903669.html
By John M. Shalikashvili and Hugh Shelton
Friday, April 30, 2010
Are we becoming a nation too fat to defend ourselves?
It seems incredible, but these are the facts: As of 2005, at least 9
million young adults -- 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24 -- were
too overweight to serve in the military, according to the Army's analysis
of national data. And since then, these high numbers have remained largely
unchanged.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show obesity
rates among young adults increasing dramatically nationwide. From 1998 to
2008, the number of states reporting that 40 percent or more of young
adults are overweight or obese has risen from one to 39.
While other significant factors can keep our youth from joining the
military -- such as lacking a high school diploma or having a serious
criminal record -- being overweight or obese has become the leading
medical reason recruits are rejected for military service. Since 1995, the
proportion of potential recruits who failed their physical exams because
of weight issues has increased nearly 70 percent, according to data
reported by the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Walter Reed Army
Institute of Research.
We consider this problem so serious from a national security perspective
that we have joined more than 130 other retired generals, admirals and
senior military leaders in calling on Congress to pass new child nutrition
legislation.
What children eat and drink during school hours constitutes as much as 40
percent of their daily nutrient intake. Properly managed, the school
environment can be instrumental in fostering healthful eating habits among
our children.
Researchers from Rice University and the University of Houston noted in
the journal Health Affairs in March that increasing participation in
federal nutrition programs "may be the most effective tool to use in
combating obesity in poor children."
As a nation, we need to take the next step. Our school districts need the
resources to offer our children more vegetables, fruits and whole grains
as well as products with less sugar, sodium, fat and calories in school
cafeterias and vending machines. Yes, this will mean increasing funding
for child nutrition programs. But with our nation spending at least $75
billion a year on medical expenses related to obesity, we think these
steps will pay off over the long term.
We urge Congress to pass a robust child nutrition bill that would:
-- Get the junk food and remaining high-calorie beverages out of our
schools by adopting new standards, based on the latest research, for foods
and drinks sold or served in our schools. Standards for school meals are
15 years old. Clearly, they need to be upgraded.
-- Support the administration's proposal of an increase of $1 billion per
year for 10 years for child nutrition programs that would improve
nutrition standards, upgrade the quality of meals served in schools and
enable more children to have access to these programs.
-- Develop research-based strategies, implemented through our schools,
that help parents and children adopt healthier lifelong eating and
exercise habits.
Military concerns about the fitness of our children are not new. When the
National School Lunch Act was first passed in 1946, it was seen as a
matter of national security. Many of our military leaders recognized that
poor nutrition was a significant factor reducing the pool of qualified
candidates for service.
Our country is facing another serious health crisis. Obesity rates
threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our
military. We must act, as we did after World War II, to ensure that our
children can one day defend our country, if need be.
Retired U.S. Army Gen. John M. Shalikashvili served as chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1993 to September 1997. Retired U.S.
Army Gen. Hugh Shelton served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
from October 1997 to September 2001. Both are on the executive advisory
council of Mission: Readiness, a nonprofit organization of retired senior
military leaders.
dyn/content/article/2010/04/29/AR2010042903669.html
By John M. Shalikashvili and Hugh Shelton
Friday, April 30, 2010
Are we becoming a nation too fat to defend ourselves?
It seems incredible, but these are the facts: As of 2005, at least 9
million young adults -- 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24 -- were
too overweight to serve in the military, according to the Army's analysis
of national data. And since then, these high numbers have remained largely
unchanged.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show obesity
rates among young adults increasing dramatically nationwide. From 1998 to
2008, the number of states reporting that 40 percent or more of young
adults are overweight or obese has risen from one to 39.
While other significant factors can keep our youth from joining the
military -- such as lacking a high school diploma or having a serious
criminal record -- being overweight or obese has become the leading
medical reason recruits are rejected for military service. Since 1995, the
proportion of potential recruits who failed their physical exams because
of weight issues has increased nearly 70 percent, according to data
reported by the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Walter Reed Army
Institute of Research.
We consider this problem so serious from a national security perspective
that we have joined more than 130 other retired generals, admirals and
senior military leaders in calling on Congress to pass new child nutrition
legislation.
What children eat and drink during school hours constitutes as much as 40
percent of their daily nutrient intake. Properly managed, the school
environment can be instrumental in fostering healthful eating habits among
our children.
Researchers from Rice University and the University of Houston noted in
the journal Health Affairs in March that increasing participation in
federal nutrition programs "may be the most effective tool to use in
combating obesity in poor children."
As a nation, we need to take the next step. Our school districts need the
resources to offer our children more vegetables, fruits and whole grains
as well as products with less sugar, sodium, fat and calories in school
cafeterias and vending machines. Yes, this will mean increasing funding
for child nutrition programs. But with our nation spending at least $75
billion a year on medical expenses related to obesity, we think these
steps will pay off over the long term.
We urge Congress to pass a robust child nutrition bill that would:
-- Get the junk food and remaining high-calorie beverages out of our
schools by adopting new standards, based on the latest research, for foods
and drinks sold or served in our schools. Standards for school meals are
15 years old. Clearly, they need to be upgraded.
-- Support the administration's proposal of an increase of $1 billion per
year for 10 years for child nutrition programs that would improve
nutrition standards, upgrade the quality of meals served in schools and
enable more children to have access to these programs.
-- Develop research-based strategies, implemented through our schools,
that help parents and children adopt healthier lifelong eating and
exercise habits.
Military concerns about the fitness of our children are not new. When the
National School Lunch Act was first passed in 1946, it was seen as a
matter of national security. Many of our military leaders recognized that
poor nutrition was a significant factor reducing the pool of qualified
candidates for service.
Our country is facing another serious health crisis. Obesity rates
threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our
military. We must act, as we did after World War II, to ensure that our
children can one day defend our country, if need be.
Retired U.S. Army Gen. John M. Shalikashvili served as chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1993 to September 1997. Retired U.S.
Army Gen. Hugh Shelton served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
from October 1997 to September 2001. Both are on the executive advisory
council of Mission: Readiness, a nonprofit organization of retired senior
military leaders.