Study: 29 percent of Kansans ages 17 to 24 too fat for military service

A study being released Wednesday says that 29 percent of Kansans ages 17 to 24 are too overweight to serve in the military.

The study, “Retreat Is Not an Option for Kansas,” is part of a national report distributed by Mission: Readiness, a national organization of retired military leaders focused on education, access to healthy food and more exercise for children.

The study said that 71 percent of Kansans ages 17 to 24 are not eligible for the military because of their weight, criminal history, drug abuse or failure to complete high school – with weight being the biggest problem. Kansas is typical of the nation, according to the report.

John Schmader, a retired Army general who is involved with Mission: Readiness, said that technology has improved multitasking and technological skills for young adults but has reduced physical fitness. He said the challenge going forward is to find a middle ground.

“You can’t have everyone be computer-illiterate jocks, and you can’t have everyone be computer literate and not physically fit,” he said.

The report highlights the historical effects of obesity on the U.S. military as the epidemic has progressed.

Beyond recruitment problems, obesity within the military costs the country more than $1.5 billion per year for increased health care costs and recruiting and training new soldiers to replace those who are unfit. Of 3,000 soldiers dismissed in 2012 by the Navy and Air Force, 1,300 were because of service members being overweight or out of shape.

“I’ve been in a couple wars, and war’s not easy. It’s tough; you have to be fit,” Schmader said.

Schmader served from 1970 to 2002 and said he witnessed the physical change during his service.

“When I first came in the military, I could drive around and every baseball diamond and football field would have people out there playing sports,” he said. “When I left the base, very few of the soldiers were out playing sports.”

To enlist in the Army, a 22-year-old, 6-foot-tall man can weigh up to 203 pounds, and a 22-year-old, 5-foot-7 woman can weigh up to 166 pounds, according to an Army Body Weight Range calculator on GoArmy.com.

Of 18-to 24-year-olds in Kansas, 46.9 percent are considered overweight or obese, according to 2013 data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The percentage of people considered overweight or obese is even higher for older age groups, according to the department.

Retired military leaders involved with Mission: Readiness in Kansas believe the solution to the obesity problem lies in the school system. The group cites the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 as positive health progress but says more work needs to be done to improve the country’s health future.

Most schools in Kansas now serve meals that meet the healthier standards, according to the report. The report highlighted Topeka and Liberal as exemplary school districts for improving school lunches and health.

In 1945, the military also called for congressional change, but for the opposite reason. When World War II began, undernourishment and health problems plagued troops because of the Great Depression. On average, the troops then were 1.5 inches shorter than those of today.

Young men in the U.S. today are on average 20 pounds heavier than men in 1960.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 12:25 AM with the headline "Study: 29 percent of Kansans ages 17 to 24 too fat for military service."