Michelle Obama Takes Aim at Military Weight (Yes, you read that right)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | February 9, 2012 | Carol E. Lee

[2ndDivisionVet]

First Lady Michelle Obama leaves Thursday for a three-day, four-state tour to mark the second anniversary of her “Let’s Move!” initiative to get Americans to eat healthier and be more physically fit.

The trip is a mix of events and announcements, including one Thursday about a program intended to combat weight gain among members of the military.

Mrs. Obama will make the announcement, along with the Department of Defense, at the Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., which has participated in a pilot program for the initiative. The initiative melds Mrs. Obama’s two signature policy goals as first lady – combating obesity and caring for military families. The Obama administration has cast childhood obesity as “a national security issue.”

Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of Defense for health affairs, has said that 25% of those who want to join the military are too overweight to make it through the initial process and that weight gain is increasingly a problem among active-duty service members. The Defense Department also estimates it spends $1.1 billion a year on medical care for weight-related problems.

“The Department of Defense considers obesity not only a national problem but a national security issue,” Mr. Woodson told reporters in advance of Mrs. Obama’s trip....

[libertarian27]

When my hubby was in the Military (60’s)- he gained weight - military weight/muscle weight - and was 190lbs at 5’10”...by today’s standards he would be ‘overweight’(27.3).

By today’s standards he’d have to lose 20 lbs and be 170lbs - he’d have to lose 20 lbs of muscle.(wasn’t much fat to lose)

The last thing we need is a bunch of skinny runts in the military. Fat is one thing, but it isn’t differentiated - they go by weight.

[massgopguy]

How ironic. When I graduated high school in 1975 I was combat ready due to the six years of Phys Ed. Then the Hippy teachers became administrators and got rid of Phys Ed so the Army would have a pool of physically fit young men who played army when they were kids.

[silverleaf]

I think maybe she be talkin ‘bout welfare mamas too fat to sign up for the army, so they can shop in the PX and stuff, whut?

“fat soldiers” is the signature policy cause of michelle obama???? wtf.

BTW, after 3 years of vacations round the world, is there a single picture anywhere of her children or her husband eating a green vegetable?

[silverleaf]

the look on that horse’s face......thinks he sees his own rear end going by

[andy58-in-nh]

[celtic gal]

I don’t know about the other services but the Marine Corps already has a pretty strict set of regs on Weight Control...and Personal Appearance. If she thinks the military personnel, especially those in the field don’t burn up calories by the Dragon Wagon load, why doesn’t she just turn up for some of the GI Jane events and see how long she lasts...Mrs Ain’t I Got Great Arms!