Military ?champions? an end to childhood obesity in America

New recruits face new scrutiny if they want to enter the military. Obesity in the military has become (almost) epidemic, costing the government untold expense while raising the cost of staying healthy is the new requirement. An unhealthy BMI or failure to pass a fitness exam is no longer ?acceptable? and can lead to dismissal if not brought under control. According to military commanders, childhood obesity raises a red flag and is now the new ?enemy? of Americans and a threat to national security.

Too fat to fight
?Too fat to fight? was released in 2010 and uncovered some alarming statistics no one was expecting: Over 75% of the candidates applying for entry into the military are unqualified due to obesity. ?Mission Readiness? (http://cdn.missionreadiness.org/MR_Too_Fat_to_Fight-1.pdf) raised alarming statistics along with sage thinking about the future of our country?s children. Their primary reason for writing the piece was to challenge Congress to set a standard for children in America, instilling the need for fundamental nutrition and exercise to become the norm in their lives versus a luxury. Underscored in their proposal were school lunches and the basic necessity for children to learn from childhood how to make ?wise? choices.

?To reduce America?s obesity rates we must start with the basics. In addition to exercise, we know that maintaining a balanced diet is key to long-term health and fitness. We also know that the childhood years are critical to the formation of sound eating habits. Millions of children buy breakfast, lunch and snacks in school every day. Properly managed, the school environment can be instrumental in fostering healthful eating habits that will last a lifetime. We are calling on Congress to pass new child legislation that would (a) get the junk food out of our schools; (b) support increased fund to improve nutritional standards and the quality of meals served in schools; and (c) provide more children access to effective programs that cut obesity.? If we don?t take steps now to build a strong, healthy foundation for our young people, then it won?t just be our military that pays the price ? our nation as whole will suffer also.?

Statistics collected by the report reflect:
*27% of America?s youth, ages 17-24, are too fat to serve in the Military (that?s their words, not mine?.I would have used the word ?obese?)

*In the past decade, the number of states with 40% of young adults considered obese by the CDC has risen from 1 to 39.

In the States of Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi over 50% of young adults are considered obese

National School Lunch Act of 1946
Dating back to 1946, the concern for America?s youth was first raised by General Lewis Hershey when he championed the ?National School Lunch Act?, later passed by Congress as a new standard for schools to follow. However, walk down a corridor or inside the cafeteria of your local high school and you won?t see the standard being executed. From soft drink to junk food companies, vending machines offer few healthy choices as they tempt our kids to ingest woefully poor nutrition.

Why would our local educational system allow such ?fruitless? behavior through their endorsement of it existing inside the halls of education? MONEY! The proceeds pay for everything from football uniforms to equipment. As shameful as that sounds, that?s the bottom line. When funding dollars are scarce, desperate educators will allow almost anything to meet their program?s need from whatever source is available.

So what can a parent do to turn this problem around? Start in the home, by setting an example of what is acceptable for your kids to consume.

*Engage your kids when you go shopping for groceries

*Disallow junk food at home

*Serve fresh food at every meal

* Stop using food as a ?reward? or ?punishment? *Understand what a ?portion? looks like and teach your kids not to overeat or clean their plate because you over-served them

*Make homemade snacks (trail mix) from bulk supply items, like almonds,cashews and raisins

*Teach your children how to cook and allow them to make the family meal a few times each week

Obesity is not just a problem for the Military; it?s a problem in America. Once we face the truth, that obesity starts in the home then we can turn the problem around.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Train a child in the way he/she should go and they?ll avoid a lifetime of obesity induced illnesses.

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/09/military-champions-end-childhood-obesity-america

Source: http://healthy-america.org/?p=1639

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