Obesity Causes Potential Risk For Future Military & National Security
The obesity problem in America costs consumers billions of dollars every year in weight related illnesses, effects children’s performances in school and in social settings and is crippling the US military.
Michelle Obama is leading a campaign to fight childhood obesity. The program includes training and help for parents to encourage proper eating habits and lifestyles in children. Youngsters not only learn to make proper food choices, but must have adequate amounts of physical activity to remain healthy. Typically, a child requires 60 minutes of exercise or active play daily. Many of today’s youth spend the majority of recreational time in front of a TV or video game. It is estimated that children spend up to 7 hours a day engaged in sedentary activities.
While parents may be teaching and providing proper nutrition in the home, schools, public food vendors and manufacturers thwart these efforts. School lunches serve fast foods that contain high fat or sugar content. Fighting obesity in part means changing school menus to include healthier food options. The campaign is also working with the food industry to develop easy to read and understandable food labels on products. Calorie and fat content are to be clearly displayed on the front of packages in addition to other package locations.
Statistics reveal that an estimated $147 billion is spent annually for weight related illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Obese patients incur about $1500 more a year in costs for health issues compared to persons who are considered physically fit. The Mission Readiness Group, comprised of retired military officers and leaders, believes our nation needs a wake-up call in light of the problem. The group claims the obesity issue is leading to a possible security threat.
Each branch of the military has a set of physical standards that individuals must meet before acceptance. Standards are based on height and weight ratios in accordance with age. Strength, body fat measurements and aerobic fitness are also considered. Military jobs require a high degree of mental and physical fitness for soldiers to successfully complete assigned tasks.
Currently, 27% of youth aged 17 to 27, do not meet these requirements. Physical fitness tests are administered every year to military personnel in an attempt to gauge fitness. An estimated 12,000 young men and women are discharged annually because of inability to meet physical standards. Millions of dollars are spent to train, house and clothe individuals, who then must be let go.
Do you think the Obama initiative to get kids more active and healthy is the answer to save our military of the future?
Source: CNN
Written by Ernesto MartinezRelated posts:
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