A recent article in the New York Times talks about how the Army has had to get rid of its traditional running, push-up and sit-up exercise program in response to the realities of modern day youth: they are too fat and weak to perform.
In fact, the situation is so dire that a group of generals prepared a report recently citing obesity as a national security threat.
Fat kids are the new menace facing our country.
They concluded, “between 1995 and 2008, the proportion of potential recruits who failed their physicals each year because they were overweight rose nearly 70 percent.”
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 20 years, you know obesity has been rising and shown no sign of slowing down. Even with all the awareness and knowledge of its risks, obesity, and especially childhood obesity, continues to rise.
Studies have shown that a child who becomes obese at a young age is more likely to remain obese when they get older. If a parent allows their child to become obese, they condemn that child to a life of low self esteem, psychological harm, and poor health. Like it or not, we are judged by how we look, especially at a young age. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality.
When I first said that being physically fit it your patriotic duty, I wrote it in a half-serious, half joking state of mind. However, I’m now convinced that it is our patriotic duty to stay healthy. Not only can we not find physically ready recruits for the armed forces, the health care costs due to obesity related illness is astronomical. It’s a drain on our economy and certainly a contributing reason that health care costs are so high.
Did you know that some health insurance companies will now charge lower premiums for corporate clients if the corporate workers are on a verifiable workout plan? Insurance companies aren’t dumb. They know that someone who exercises regularly will be much less likely to cost them large amounts of money in the future. Reducing premiums provides incentive for employees to exercise. The insurance company then reaps the benefits in the long run when they don’t have to pay out obesity related claims. Everyone wins.
I’m not saying you have to join the military to be a true patriot.
Exercise, eat healthy and lose some weight.
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