Obesity, a National Security issue?

Are Americans too fat to fight? According to Major General Allen Batschelet,  70% of applicants who apply to the service are ineligible. 10% of these applicants are too overweight to join the services. The applicants range from 17-24 years old. In charge of U.S army recruiting command, Major General Batschelet is horrified by these statistics. What does this mean for America? In about five years the military will be unable to recruit enough "qualified soldiers". Batschelet believes this is on the way to becoming a crisis. We are living in a very unstable world and U.S army is extremely important in regarding national security. This poses a large threat to our nation.

The obesity epidemic in the United States is one of country's largest health concerns. Obesity is not only a costly health issue money but it also increases risk for many illnesses. Including: heart disease, type two diabetes, and various types of cancer. In the United States, one third of adults are obese, and 17% of youth are considered obese. For the first time in history, two states' obesity rates exceed 35%. This is extremely worrisome, not only for the army but for the entire country. The obesity issue is not going away, but instead it continues to increase every year. For many years, fatness was a symbol of inferiority, of an "uncivilized, barbaric, and primitive body". This continues today and helps fuel our 60 billion dollars spent on the obesity epidemic.

The health risks of the obesity epidemic are enormous. Obesity poses a hazard and a threat to national security. The vulnerability of this epidemic is poverty and lack of knowledge and access to healthy foods/exercise. The cost of this epidemic is enormous (60 billion dollars!)

 This public health issue is a disaster in the United States. The magnitude of people it affects is frightening. It affects 70% of Americans, more than half of Americans are overweight! What can be done regarding this issue? 

America has taken many routes to curb not only childhood obesity but all obesity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been issuing dietary recommendations for more than a century, before specific vitamins and minerals even were named. In 1980, USDA joined with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop the first version of what has become a very critical Federal nutrition policy document to improve the Nations health. There are many prevention programs, including Michelle Obamas, "Let's Move!" campaign which attacks the childhood obesity problem and attempts to, "raise a healthier generation of kids". There is hope to save America from facing a national security issue. 


http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/opinions/costello-america-fat/index.html
http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/obesity-statistics-in-the-united-states.aspx
http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/prevrpt/01fall/pr.htm
http://www.letsmove.gov/