{"id":52807,"date":"2020-12-31T18:31:25","date_gmt":"2020-12-31T18:31:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/12\/31\/study-suggests-legislation-to-tamp-down-on-obesity-improve-military-recruiting\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:09:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:09:50","slug":"study-suggests-legislation-to-tamp-down-on-obesity-improve-military-recruiting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/12\/31\/study-suggests-legislation-to-tamp-down-on-obesity-improve-military-recruiting\/","title":{"rendered":"Study suggests legislation to tamp down on obesity, improve military recruiting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Defense Department spends over $1 billion a year on treatment of obesity-ralted issues, including lost productivity, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being out of shape also puts troops at a higher risk for injury, costing more money to treat and more time lost, and increases the likelihood they\u2019ll wash out before finishing an enlistment<\/a>, according to research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It \u201ccould be a topic for legislative consideration,\u201d according to the report, released Dec. 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The services have long lamented the narrowing recruit pool of healthy young Americans, as average weights have skyrocketed and regular physical activity has dropped. Even when someone is able to enlist, their weight can be a risk factor for early attrition, costing tens of thousands in recruiting and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026 of the recruits who exceeded the weight-for-height standards but subsequently entered the military because they passed the standards later or received a waiver, 80 [percent] left the military before completing their first term of enlistment but after the expenditure of training costs,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\t