Statistics released on Sunday indicated that the outbreak of the coronavirus and the lockdowns during the course of the pandemic led to an increase in the obesity rates among US military personnel.
The Associated Press reported that about 10,000 active-duty soldiers in the US Army became obese in 2019. This brought the total number of soldiers who were overweight to almost 25%. Other military branches also experienced increases in obesity.
A study conducted by a healthcare research center at a university in Maryland revealed that the military services should focus on improving the fitness of their personnel.
The study found that obese and overweight soldiers are more prone to suffering from injuries and are less able to withstand the physical demands of their line of work.
Government studies also indicated that the military loses around 650,000 workdays each year due to the effects of obesity. In addition, the medical expenses of the service members and their families due to obesity reach over $1.5 billion annually.
For years, military leaders have been warning about the dangers of obesity, the AP reported. However, due to the pandemic's effects, Brigadier General Stephen C. Cheney, who co-authored a report on the issue, noted that urgent action is needed now.
During a webinar organized by a think tank in November, the general noted that the military's obesity rates have not improved.
According to a report by the conservative news outlet, the prevalence of weight gain was apparent during the lockdowns.
A survey conducted in 2021 revealed that about 42% of Americans were struggling to regain their lost weight due to the pandemic. Individuals gained an average of 29 pounds during the epidemic.
The percentage of adults who reported experiencing unintended weight gain or loss was 61 percent. The figure was 42 percent for those who had gained weight.
This comes just a week after the Army admitted that it was struggling to recruit enough soldiers. The service also announced that it would reduce the size of its active-duty force by about 80,000.
Fitness, mental health issues, and obesity are some of the conditions that prevent the Army from recruiting enough people.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on The Bearded Patriot
