Posted on Oct 23, 2023
Nearly 70% of US troops are overweight or obese, research report says
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This is what happens when you loosen the standards.
Nearly 70% of US troops are overweight or obese, research report says
Posted from stripes.comPosted in these groups: 
Fitness
Fitness
Posted 6 mo ago
Responses: 3
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"Overweight" according to BMI. Pretty much every competitive body builder is overweight according to BMI. Many are "obese." According to BMI, Schwarzenegger was "obese" when he won Mr. Universe.
The military values and, in many MOSs, requires strength. Military men and women, as a group, are "bulkier" than their civilian counterparts. Without taking that into account, any reports are not worth the paper they are printed on. And considering this is a online article which isn't even on paper - that says how little the article matters.
The military values and, in many MOSs, requires strength. Military men and women, as a group, are "bulkier" than their civilian counterparts. Without taking that into account, any reports are not worth the paper they are printed on. And considering this is a online article which isn't even on paper - that says how little the article matters.
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From the report:
“Reports on military obesity published by the Department of Defense generally include a disclaimer stating that BMI may overrepresent obesity rates due to ‘high muscle mass,’ occasionally followed by a reference to a study of civilian firefighters. However, evidence suggests that BMI is much more likely to underreport obesity than overreport it, including in military populations. After undergoing more accurate bodyfat analysis, the CDC found that around 3% of women and 11% of men categorized by BMI as ‘obese’ had healthy levels of fat mass, but 31% of individuals classified as ‘normal weight’ by BMI had obesity. A 2021 Military Medicine study revealed that BMI significantly underestimated excess body fat in soldiers when compared to more accurate methods like X-ray absorptiometry and bioimpedance analysis.”
So yeah, BMI is not a good metric because it underestimates an individual’s body fat--which would be cause for even greater concern. There appears to be, at a minimum, an indicator of a broader problem. You can look at the recruiting crisis as another indicator. I don't necessarily see the issue as an indictment of the military services, just that Americans are generally fatter than they used to be. That is a tough nut to crack.
But also, I find it hard to believe that the entire study is bunk simply for using BMI as a metric. If that were true, why is it that the rate of military obesity has doubled since 2012? If the same metric was used then (BMI), what is different about today's soldier that wasn't true in 2012?
“Reports on military obesity published by the Department of Defense generally include a disclaimer stating that BMI may overrepresent obesity rates due to ‘high muscle mass,’ occasionally followed by a reference to a study of civilian firefighters. However, evidence suggests that BMI is much more likely to underreport obesity than overreport it, including in military populations. After undergoing more accurate bodyfat analysis, the CDC found that around 3% of women and 11% of men categorized by BMI as ‘obese’ had healthy levels of fat mass, but 31% of individuals classified as ‘normal weight’ by BMI had obesity. A 2021 Military Medicine study revealed that BMI significantly underestimated excess body fat in soldiers when compared to more accurate methods like X-ray absorptiometry and bioimpedance analysis.”
So yeah, BMI is not a good metric because it underestimates an individual’s body fat--which would be cause for even greater concern. There appears to be, at a minimum, an indicator of a broader problem. You can look at the recruiting crisis as another indicator. I don't necessarily see the issue as an indictment of the military services, just that Americans are generally fatter than they used to be. That is a tough nut to crack.
But also, I find it hard to believe that the entire study is bunk simply for using BMI as a metric. If that were true, why is it that the rate of military obesity has doubled since 2012? If the same metric was used then (BMI), what is different about today's soldier that wasn't true in 2012?
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SGM (Join to see) the observation of comparing flawed metric to same flawed metric is valid. It is, indeed, an apples to apples comparison. There is validity in observing the difference in BMI.
But stating it as an obesity or overweight epidemic is simply not valid, when BMI itself is flawed.
My problem with the whole thing is that it does not discriminate between fat and muscle - or bone. On average, black people have denser bones than white people.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9024231/
So a lean body builder can be obese, and a fat couch potato can be "normal."
Anecdotally, I put on 40 pounds in my first 2 years in the Army. That is 50 pounds of muscle, while dropping 10 pounds of fat. 2 more years (and 5 pounds) later, I was quite literally in the best shape of my life. I was 5'8, 200, and could run the 2 mile in 11:30. I maxed pushups with 30 seconds to spare. My only weak spot was situps - I usually did around 65-70. I taped out around 10%, give or take - and I believe even that was higher than true. Despite being a lean, mean, killing machine, those 45 pounds moved me from "normal" to "obese." I know a lot of folks with similar stories. When BMI is used as a metric, it punishes people for getting more fit.
But stating it as an obesity or overweight epidemic is simply not valid, when BMI itself is flawed.
My problem with the whole thing is that it does not discriminate between fat and muscle - or bone. On average, black people have denser bones than white people.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9024231/
So a lean body builder can be obese, and a fat couch potato can be "normal."
Anecdotally, I put on 40 pounds in my first 2 years in the Army. That is 50 pounds of muscle, while dropping 10 pounds of fat. 2 more years (and 5 pounds) later, I was quite literally in the best shape of my life. I was 5'8, 200, and could run the 2 mile in 11:30. I maxed pushups with 30 seconds to spare. My only weak spot was situps - I usually did around 65-70. I taped out around 10%, give or take - and I believe even that was higher than true. Despite being a lean, mean, killing machine, those 45 pounds moved me from "normal" to "obese." I know a lot of folks with similar stories. When BMI is used as a metric, it punishes people for getting more fit.
Racial differences in bone density between young adult black and white subjects persist after...
This study tested whether racial differences in bone density can be explained by differences in bone metabolism and lifestyle. A cohort of 402 black and white men and women, ages 25-36 yr, was studied at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Northern California, a prepaid health plan. Body c …
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SGM (Join to see)
It seems like the DOD collects an immense amount of data but can't find (or doesn't want to find) the source of the problem. This recruiting crisis is a perfect example, and it isn't all weight-related disqualifiers. Lots of "other stuff" that nobody wants to talk about driving that problem too...
But also anecdotally (about weight control), I see it on the daily. We simply do not look as fit as when I joined in 2001.
But also anecdotally (about weight control), I see it on the daily. We simply do not look as fit as when I joined in 2001.
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It is a nationwide issue going on for years involving both military and civilians. Here is 2018 article about it.
https://www.newsweek.com/america-so-out-shape-and-fat-its-putting-us-army-soldiers-danger-778840
https://www.newsweek.com/america-so-out-shape-and-fat-its-putting-us-army-soldiers-danger-778840
Obesity Among Army Recruits Threatens National Security
The U.S. Army is struggling to find physically fit recruits.
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I think it is. I was one of the lucky ones. I was able to help my class. A uniform converted to officer and I Still, I'm able to wear my dress blues that I got when I was commissioned in my 30s and I'm 61 now.
I also passed the army combat fitness test with flying colors though. I didn't max it, but my last. APFT in the 2019 I got a 299.
I got max score on my APFT. At least 5 or 6 times in my 27 years as a commissioned officer. I also never needed to be taped. Some of this Obesity. could be from genetics and not necessarily from somebody eating like a sumo wrestler. You can't lay a 100% of the blame on the soldier.
I also passed the army combat fitness test with flying colors though. I didn't max it, but my last. APFT in the 2019 I got a 299.
I got max score on my APFT. At least 5 or 6 times in my 27 years as a commissioned officer. I also never needed to be taped. Some of this Obesity. could be from genetics and not necessarily from somebody eating like a sumo wrestler. You can't lay a 100% of the blame on the soldier.
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