In a time when the United States is sending thousands of troops to the Middle East, the country is faced with a threat to national security within its own borders, according to a recent article by a nonprofit group formed to promote national security.
Many young people from the ages of 17 to 24 are physically unfit to pass the physical exam necessary to enter the military, according to an April article that analyzes data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense and other government sources. The article was produced by Mission: Readiness, a group of retired military leaders who work to prepare young people to join the military. As the group puts it in the title of the article, young adults are Too Fat to Fight.
The article shows that three-fourths of young people cannot join the military because they have a criminal record, did not graduate high school or have health problems, according to the article. One-fourth of that statistic is obese.
There's definitely a problem with obesity in our generation; (it) could be due to fast food and increased game usage
said Nick Preskar, an Ohio University freshman who is in the ROTC program.
Those who do not pass the body fat test in ROTC must do extra workouts until they meet the requirements, he said.
Male ROTC members are measured around the waist and neck and female members are measured around the waist, hips and neck before training begins, said Maj. John Hansen, the recruiting officer for OU's ROTC program.
Hansen said ROTC does not have many problems with obesity.
It's better here on campus because on the whole college students tend to take better care of themselves he said in reaction to the results of the study.
He added that the requirements to join the military have become much stricter recently, which could be why the fraction of ineligible people is so high.
Mission: Readiness' analysis blames obesity in young people on unhealthy school lunch food and fast food. The article also attributes the problem to laziness. Many young people neglect working out, choosing instead to lounge in front of the TV or the computer, according to the article.
Mary Frances Astrom, a nutrition counselor at OU, said the increase in obesity is partly because of processed foods and lack of exercise.
If this age group doesn't establish an exercise pattern when they are young
they won't as adults
she said.
1
News
Josh Linton
31684a.jpg
Squad leader Ryan Coomler salutes before the beginning of physical training for the Ohio University Army ROTC. In order to join the ROTC all cadets must pass a fitness test. Fitness requirements vary with age, but men ages 17 to 21 must run two miles in less than 19 minutes and 30 seconds. They are also given two minutes to perform a minimum of 53 sit-ups and two minutes to perform at least 42 push-ups. Physical training for cadets is held three days a week for one hour. (Ross Brinkerhoff | FOR THE POST)
