Posted on Oct 16, 2017

Too Fat to Fight: Military Threatened by Childhood Obesity

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What are your thoughts on the topic? I feel like some of the information is incorrect that they received. (6 ft 184 pounds limit, thats the 5'9 limit in the Marine Corps)

Too Fat to Fight: Military Threatened by Childhood Obesity

Posted from military.com

Posted in these groups: Imgres

Physical Training Logo no word s

Fitness

Readiness

Posted >1 y ago

Responses: 7

Cpl Jeff N.

Posted >1 y ago

It is a problem for sure. I cannot tell you how many overweight (and I mean by a lot) of people I see in the airports (I travel almost every week). It appears the camouflage utility uniform has become the sweat outfit for the Army (sorry Army folks). It may be the only uniform some of them can fit into.

I do know that at 6'3" when I was in if I was at 190 or so lbs. I would be at the upper end of the height/weight limit for me. I've been out for 33 years so it could have changes since then. 6', 185 lbs sounds a bit plump to me.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

I feel like the limit may be a bit higher due to the difference in Physical Standards nowadays. More people that focus on fitness in the military go for the lower functional tier of a bodybuilding physique which makes 190 lbs look like 165.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Howere you are right I have seen a lot of people who just look awful in uniform and need to conform to appearance standards

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MCPO Roger Collins

Posted >1 y ago

One question. Do those that are deemed to be overweight perform in combat, based on field results, not some bureaucrat at the Pentagon? BTW, I would be classified as underweight based on the current standards, so it has nothing to do with my personal situation. We had many cooks that were overweight and they performed well, doing their duties and in emergency situations.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Not sure about the other branches but if you are overweight in the Marine Corps their are 2 times when that is okay.

1. If you can make the bodyfat percentage determind by your age and sex.
2. If you can perform physical activities i.e Physical Fitness Test, Combat Fitness Test. (This doesn't mean passing if you get 285+ on both you can submit a waiver or talk to your 1st Sgt). Now the 1st Sgt that's approving this will make sure you are physically presentable still.

The height and weight standards are made for someone who does calisthenics and isn't too into bodybuilding. Nowadays there is a strong emphasis on aesthetics and bodybuilding is the most prominent way of doing this. This does however pack on pounds that don't make you look unpresentable. I can't speak on behalf of the other branches however the Marine Corps has found its current fix for the problem.

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MCPO Roger Collins

>1 y

As should all other branches

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

I could see the Navy adopting it due to us being in the department of the Navy. However with most things some standards are different between the other branches such as general customs and courtesies. Hopefully they do however I do believe the big fix will be this generations push on fitness and the standard that's been created in the media.

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