Thinking back to school in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s I am struck by how attractive I thought everybody was. Each class was likely to have “the fat kid.” But he was a relative rarity and the ones I remember mostly wouldn’t be noticed as such in a similar grade today. I was at a red-light as the high school let out. With few exceptions the kids ranged from fat to obese to grossly obese. Throw in the haphazard way they were combed and dressed and, for the most part, they were downright ugly.
I don't recall fat recruits either in basic training. Sure there were awkward, uncoordinated recruits, but not overweight.