A new study is raising serious concerns about the epidemic of obesity among U.S. military personnel, which is estimated to cost the Pentagon over $1 billion annually. Released by the Washinton, D.C.-based American Security Project, the study identifies obesity as the primary disqualifier for potential recruits and a leading cause of separation among active-duty troops in 2023.
Last year, the Pentagon allocated approximately $1.25 billion to treat obesity-related diseases in military personnel, and an additional $99 million was lost in productivity due to overweight troops being hospitalized. Additionally, the obesity epidemic among service members has some defense experts concerned about U.S. military readiness.
The study further highlights that nearly 70 percent of troops are considered overweight based on their body mass index (BMI), with 21 percent classified as obese, a rate that has more than doubled in the last decade.
“America can no longer afford to ignore this [obesity] crisis,” the researchers emphasized in the report. They noted that conditions such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypertension, and steatotic liver disease in service members are beginning to match or exceed civilian rates, even as combat injuries decline.
To address this crisis, the report suggests that the military focus on health and nutrition education for young enlisted troops and improving access to quality foods. Additionally, the report advises shifting from appearance-based body composition standards to those driven by medical professionals, and classifying obesity as a disease within the military health system to enable proper medical treatment.
