Too Fat To Fight
By: Nate Potter
Updated: April 21, 2010
Lawmakers and former Army officials say that one out of every four young people is too fat to fight in the military. They said that obesity is now the number one reason people are turned away from service.
A report by Mission Readiness says that 9 million people ages 17-24 are to fat to serve in the military. That's 27% of Americans in that age group.
The report blames the high obesity rate on school lunches.
Mission Readiness claims that the lunches aren't healthy, and there's too much access to junk food.
Hollidaysburg School District Public Relations Director Linda Russo says that she agrees that obesity is a huge problem in America, but she doesn't blame school lunches.
Russo says that 16% of a child's total food consumption is while in school. She says parents and the community need to do more to encourage kids to exercise and eat well outside of school.
According to the report, Pennsylvania si one of nine states where less than 40% of the population is considered overweight.
