US Youngsters now too fat to fight

bluto63 · 01-05-2010 3:00pm #1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8655651.stm

wrote:

Rising rates of obesity among young Americans could undermine the future of the US military, two retired generals have warned.
More than a quarter of young Americans are now too fat to fight, they said.
Writing in the Washington Post, the ex-commanders said the fat crisis ruled out more potential military service recruits than any other medical factor.
They want Congress to introduce laws to give US children better nutrition in schools, with less sugar, salt and fat.
John Shalikashvili and Hugh Shelton, both former chairmen of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote: "Obesity rates threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our military."
"We consider this problem so serious from a national security perspective that we have joined more than 130 other retired generals, admirals and senior military leaders in calling on Congress to pass new child nutrition legislation," the commanders added.
The warning comes amid mounting fears that childhood obesity has turned into an "epidemic" affecting an astonishing one in three young American people.
Mr Shalikashvili and Mr Shelton pointed to post-school lunch laws from 1946, which recognised that poor nutrition reduced the pool of military recruits.
"We must act, as we did after World War II, to ensure that our children can one day defend our country, if need be."
Obesity rates in the US have surged over the last year, according to one report .
The Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found adult obesity rates rose in 23 of the 50 states, but fell in none.

Huh, so being obese is actually saving their lives! Could this lead to America beginning a tax on fatty foods like the one proposed for Ireland?

L.Jenkins · 01-05-2010 3:08pm

Wow, I never though it would take the military to sort stuff out in the US. War on fatties, "Oh don't make me run, I'm full of chocolate!"

peanuthead · 01-05-2010 3:10pm

Lol the state should sue all of them for an inability to serve their country. Would make a nice change for once!

blow69 · 01-05-2010 3:11pm

So the US Army could soon be obsolete....oops, wrong word. I mean obese.

PCPhoto · 01-05-2010 3:11pm

bluto63 wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8655651.stm

Huh, so being obese is actually saving their lives! Could this lead to America beginning a tax on fatty foods like the one proposed for Ireland?

what ??? a fat tax ??? .... goddamn it .... what will they think of next ... a thinking tax ?? (for anyone who thinks they can do better than the government)

Mike 1972 · 01-05-2010 3:12pm

peanuthead wrote: »

Lol the state should sue all of them for an inability to serve their country Murder brown people and steal their oil. Would make a nice change for once!

FYP

peanuthead · 01-05-2010 3:14pm

Mike 1972 wrote: »

FYP

lol well yes, indeed

It wasn't me! · 01-05-2010 3:25pm

Obviously it is a real concern for miltary brass that their selection pool is dwindling, and it's neither feasible nor desirable to lower the standards to match it. It's less of a problem here, where those who intend military careers aren't inclined to be overweight, but where there's a tradition of drafting in wartime, then of course the fact that the pool for drafting from is about twice the size it needs to be with only half the number of people is a serious problem. It's good foresight to tackle it now.

minidazzler · 01-05-2010 3:31pm

Mike 1972 wrote: »

FYP

That's really smart what you did there, changing serving their country to murdering brown people and stealing their oil. It's really smart because it's actually what happens you know. People join the US military and the only thing they can do is kill people. They have never helped at all really. There was a 0 percent crime rate in Iraq before the US went in. And don't get me started on Afghanistan, that was a first world country that was promoting peace like a Mother-fcuker. You're a smart one you are. Glad we can have you on boards for such a well thought out and valuble change to a post, it is truely an unforgettable contribution to this forum as a whole. Please, keep it up, it enlightens all of us.

Hande hoche! · 01-05-2010 3:33pm

End result more effective human shields for the officers.

peanuthead · 01-05-2010 3:34pm

minidazzler wrote: »

That's really smart what you did there, changing serving their country to murdering brown people and stealing their oil. It's really smart because it's actually what happens you know. People join the US military and the only thing they can do is kill people. They have never helped at all really. There was a 0 percent crime rate in Iraq before the US went in. And don't get me started on Afghanistan, that was a first world country that was promoting peace like a Mother-fcuker. You're a smart one you are. Glad we can have you on boards for such a well thought out and valuble change to a post, it is truely an unforgettable contribution to this forum as a whole. Please, keep it up, it enlightens all of us.

Jesus Christ

RichieO · 01-05-2010 3:35pm

The conscientious objectors could have a field day with that, like
"Don't get drafted get obese"

RolandIRL · 01-05-2010 3:41pm

minidazzler wrote: »

And don't get me started on Afghanistan, that was a first world country that was promoting peace like a Mother-fcuker.

just like the US, who thought them that was wrong

:P

mike65 · 01-05-2010 3:41pm

Whatever about the US military the whole of the USA is becoming slob city and guess what? The Irish are not too far behind. You'd think a recession would thin people out a bit wouldn't you?

minidazzler · 01-05-2010 4:19pm

peanuthead wrote: »

Jesus Christ

Nope, just MiniDazzler.

Overheal · 01-05-2010 4:49pm

mike65 wrote: »

Whatever about the US military the whole of the USA is becoming slob city and guess what? The Irish are not too far behind. You'd think a recession would thin people out a bit wouldn't you?

Not when junk foods cost significantly less than their healthy and balanced counterparts.

blow69 wrote: »

So the US Army could soon be obsolete....oops, wrong word. I mean obese.

Which it may one day come down to, with the way things are progressing in the UAV field.

Manic Moran · 01-05-2010 4:51pm

peanuthead wrote: »

Jesus Christ

Some of us have spent years away from our families with the honest intention of making life better for those 'brown people' who either didn't have the luxury of making snide comments on the Internet without a knock on the door the following morning, or don't have an Internet connection to make a comment at all.

What have you done to help a farmer in Afghanistan recently?

Which it may one day come down to, with the way things are progressing in the UAV field.

You will never be able to replace the man on the ground.

NTM

Rabies · 01-05-2010 6:51pm

Mike 1972 wrote: »

FYP

What are you implying?

K4t · 01-05-2010 6:58pm

Overheal wrote: »

Not when junk foods cost significantly less than their healthy and balanced counterparts.

lol

Overheal wrote: »

Which it may one day come down to, with the way things are progressing in the UAV field.

LOL

Wibbs · 01-05-2010 7:02pm

I recall reading a book where they expressed similar worries over the state of pool of young men in the lead up to WW2. There were less recruits coming through that were A1 fitness.

mike65 · 01-05-2010 7:05pm

Overheal wrote: »

Not when junk foods cost significantly less than their healthy and balanced counterparts.

Thats the lie those who feast on saturated fat tell themselves, I'm on a low to non existent income these days and I have yet to swap my usual diet for burgers chips and pizzas.

Overheal · 01-05-2010 8:06pm

mike65 wrote: »

Thats the lie those who feast on saturated fat tell themselves, I'm on a low to non existent income these days and I have yet to swap my usual diet for burgers chips and pizzas.

The Irish market is not nearly as bad as the US Market about this. Significant differences in prices.

Sam Kade · 01-05-2010 8:30pm

bluto63 wrote: »

Could this lead to America beginning a tax on fatty foods like the one proposed for Ireland?

So all the fatties in the dáil want to tax the Irish public to prevent them getting fat:rolleyes:.

starbelgrade · 01-05-2010 8:42pm

It'd be an amusing scenario to see the Americans about to go into combat, the sergeant shouts, "ROLL OUT", and the soldiers literally do roll out.

starbelgrade · 01-05-2010 8:47pm

Overheal wrote: »

The Irish market is not nearly as bad as the US Market about this. Significant differences in prices.

There is a difference alright, but it's still possible to eat well without eating junk. Take your standard Goodfellas pizza - packed full of salt & saturated fats. Dunno what it costs - €4/5?

You can make a pizza with some flour, yeast, a tin of tomatoes, a ball of mozzarella & a few herbs for less than €2. Cheap, healthy & even uses a bit of energy to knead the dough.

Too much effort for the fat, lazy slobs who just want instant gratification from a packet.

Kazuma · 01-05-2010 10:23pm

starbelgrade wrote: »

There is a difference alright, but it's still possible to eat well without eating junk. Take your standard Goodfellas pizza - packed full of salt & saturated fats. Dunno what it costs - €4/5?

You can make a pizza with some flour, yeast, a tin of tomatoes, a ball of mozzarella & a few herbs for less than €2. Cheap, healthy & even uses a bit of energy to knead the dough.

Too much effort for the fat, lazy slobs who just want instant gratification from a packet.

Is this slander?

I love instant gratification from a packet

Killer Pigeon · 01-05-2010 10:47pm

Oh well, I suppose they can always build bigger tanks.

Captain Chaos · 01-05-2010 10:53pm

"In the future wars will not fought on the battlefield but in space, or on top of a very tall mountain by robots. It will be your mission to build and maintain those robots":D

Absurdum · 02-05-2010 12:32am

US MILITARY 2017:

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_03/fatfighters1710_468x386.jpg

the_syco · 02-05-2010 12:58am

mike65 wrote: »

Thats the lie those who feast on saturated fat tell themselves, I'm on a low to non existent income these days and I have yet to swap my usual diet for burgers chips and pizzas.

I've found that for a small meal, the fatty food is cheaper, but for a few healthy meals spread across a week is cheaper than cheap fatty meals.

starbelgrade wrote: »

You can make a pizza with some flour, yeast, a tin of tomatoes, a ball of mozzarella & a few herbs for less than €2. Cheap, healthy & even uses a bit of energy to knead the dough.

All of the indgredients for less than €2? Please tell me where, I'm on a tight buget until payday on Friday

Absurdum wrote: »

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_03/fatfighters1710_468x386.jpg

I hate women like this on the bus: do you give up your seat cos they're preggers, or are they just fat?

starbelgrade · 02-05-2010 1:19am

the_syco wrote: »

All of the indgredients for less than €2? Please tell me where, I'm on a tight buget until payday on Friday

Tesco.

Manic Moran · 02-05-2010 2:03am

Absurdum wrote: »

US MILITARY 2017:

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_03/fatfighters1710_468x386.jpg

I was expecting a photo of Heavy 6.

http://giveupinternet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/dont-worry-sir-im-from-internet.jpg

Oh well. At least he's playing outside. Some exercise is better than nothing.

NTM

ynotdu · 02-05-2010 2:17am

Manic Moran wrote: »

Some of us have spent years away from our families with the honest intention of making life better for those 'brown people' who either didn't have the luxury of making snide comments on the Internet without a knock on the door the following morning, or don't have an Internet connection to make a comment at all.

What have you done to help a farmer in Afghanistan recently?

You will never be able to replace the man on the ground.

NTM

Manic I am sure Peanuthead is being misunderstood here?
Surely He is talking about those brown people who were helped so much by the US army after the Earthquake in Haiti?
People's memory can be SO selective:(

Overheal · 02-05-2010 4:37am

Isnt it racist to call them brown people

pickarooney · 02-05-2010 8:50am

minidazzler wrote: »

That's really smart what you did there, changing serving their country to murdering brown people and stealing their oil. It's really smart because it's actually what happens you know. People join the US military and the only thing they can do is kill people. They have never helped at all really. There was a 0 percent crime rate in Iraq before the US went in. And don't get me started on Afghanistan, that was a first world country that was promoting peace like a Mother-fcuker. You're a smart one you are. Glad we can have you on boards for such a well thought out and valuble change to a post, it is truely an unforgettable contribution to this forum as a whole. Please, keep it up, it enlightens all of us.

Not really serving their country though, is it? Your point might have been better made concentrating on the good teh army does as an emergncy response unit on US soil.

Stercus Accidit · 02-05-2010 8:59am

Overheal wrote: »

Isnt it racist to call them brown people

No.

Herb Powell · 02-05-2010 9:25am

minidazzler wrote: »

That's really smart what you did there, changing serving their country to murdering brown people and stealing their oil. It's really smart because it's actually what happens you know. People join the US military and the only thing they can do is kill people. They have never helped at all really. There was a 0 percent crime rate in Iraq before the US went in. And don't get me started on Afghanistan, that was a first world country that was promoting peace like a Mother-fcuker. You're a smart one you are. Glad we can have you on boards for such a well thought out and valuble change to a post, it is truely an unforgettable contribution to this forum as a whole. Please, keep it up, it enlightens all of us.

Those countries are still shitholes

02-05-2010 9:26am

Overheal wrote: »

Isnt it racist to call them brown people

Isn't it racist to know what he meant by it?

Dardania · 02-05-2010 11:28am

I don't know how accurate this is, or whether I'm skewing the story to suit my point, but was the decline of the Roman empire partially caused by their exxessive war fighting, by non-Roman soilders, because their own men didn't want to fight? America could find itself in the same situation if they persist with fighting wars, and having immigrant soilders forming their ranks...