Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Are young Americans too fat to fight?

Details

  • Description

    Obesity epidemic threatens national security

  • Duration 2:37
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Fox & Friends

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

This -- but because it put down your bear -- the US obesity epidemic is actually a threat.

To our national security.

-- part of the problem is that bear claw.

It turns out one in four young adults are unable to join the military because of their weight and inability to meet our military's most basic requirements our next guest says this is not only a health crisis.

But in national security issue as well joining us this morning of the alarming new study lieutenant general Norman.

Good morning thank you for having me I guess -- two billion according to -- The study.

Extra candy bars or -- their children are and 75%.

Of young adults aren't qualified to serve in the military what can we do about it.

Well I think we can not recognize it as a net national epidemic and take it on as a team approach.

Meaning there's a place for government a place for our schools -- parents -- kids.

The food and beverage industry the restaurant industry and certainly.

The medical industry there to get involved in -- and solve this problem.

Who -- -- general don't we kind of a team approach right now I know parents are talking personal responsibility.

We've got this administration now pushing.

Dietary requirements out on school lunches and stuff like that don't we have a team approach right now.

Well we have a team approach but I think we need to push up the effort.

The fact that matters we've gone from one state.

240 states and just thirteen years in which 40% or more of the seventeen -- point four euros through greater -- and as we pointed out in our report.

-- nine million children can't join the military simply because they're overweight.

And about a billion dollars I understand is spent in the military are ready on weight related.

Diseases so it's also a problem.

In our active service based upon the young people who've been kinda.

Polluted by -- that candy bars and sugar and fat for so.

Yes they actually were not immune to the problem there one point one billion dollars for.

Obesity obesity related medical costs for our retirees are active duty or family members and our children.

Generally.

General when you say that the people -- become some of our best people in the military though are motivated from the get go.

By personal responsibility end and they're probably not gonna have the problem of obesity to start where perhaps.

Well perhaps -- I mean it each year we are discharge anywhere from three to 5000 people.

Who don't complete their first enlistment.

Because they feel the need to physical weight standards.

Gotcha all right he's a spokesperson for mission readiness lieutenant general Norman site sir thank you very much for joining us today.

Thank you thank you for your continued support of our military members and -- is our pleasure thank you sir.

Load More