Are We “Too Fat To Fight?”

There seems to be a story-a-day on the obesity problem in America. Obese adults and obese children and a search for the answers as to why this is such a problem. New York City bans super-sized sodas. Michelle Obama starts a program for better food limits in schools. Why are we so fat?!

I don't pretend to have the answer today even though I have my own ideas. I think we eat too much processed, sugary foods and don't exercise enough, but that's not the point of today's blog.

Today I read a story about how the military is worried. They're worried we are "Too Fat To Fight." Citing the difficulty in finding qualified recruits, they want junk food banned from schools. A new report says 40% of students who buy high-calorie, low-nutrient junk food at school consume an average of 130 calories a day.

The report notes that junk food adds up to 400-BILLION "empty" calories a year. They say these extra calories are making young people too heavy to serve in the military ultimately putting national security at risk. In fact, statistics show three-quarters of people between the ages of 17 and 24 are too overwight to serve in the military.