School lunches threaten national security

[DirtMonitor]

From:
http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2010/04/military_officers_group_says_s.html

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- School lunches have been called many things, but a group of retired military officers is giving them a new label: national security threat.
That's not a reference to the mystery meat served up in the cafeteria line either. The retired officers are saying that school lunches have helped make the nation's young people so fat that fewer of them can meet the military's physical fitness standards, and recruitment is in jeopardy.

A new report being released today says more than 9 million young adults, or 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24, are too overweight to join the military. Now, the officers are advocating for passage of a wide-ranging nutrition bill that aims to make the nation's school lunches healthier.

The officers' group, Mission: Readiness, was appearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The military group acknowledges that other things keep young adults out of the armed services, such as a criminal record or the lack of a high school diploma. But weight problems that have worsened over the past 15 years are now the leading medical reason that recruits are rejected.

Although all branches of the military now meet or exceed recruitment goals, retired Navy Rear Adm. James Barnett Jr., a member of the officers group, says the obesity trend could affect that.

"When over a quarter of young adults are too fat to fight, we need to take notice," Barnett said. He noted that national security in the year 2030 is "absolutely dependent" on reversing child obesity rates.

Recruitment isn't the only problem posed by obesity. According to the report, the government spends tens of millions of dollars every year to train replacements for service members discharged because of weight problems

This isn't the first time the military has gotten involved in the debate over school lunches. During World War II, military leaders had the opposite problem, reporting that many recruits were rejected because of stunted growth and inadequate nutrition. After the war, military leaders pushed Congress to establish the national school lunch program so children would grow up healthier.

The program was established in 1946, "as a measure of national security," according to the original bill language.

Today, the group is urging Congress to eliminate junk food and high-calorie beverages from schools, put more money into the school lunch program and develop new strategies that help children develop healthier habits.

The school lunch bill, currently awaiting a Senate vote, would establish healthier options for all foods in schools, including vending machine items. The legislation would spend $4.5 billion more over 10 years for nutrition programs.

The Army is already doing its part to catch the problem earlier, working with high schoolers and interested recruits to lose weight before they are eligible for service, says U.S. Army Recruiting Command's Mark Howell. He added that he had to lose 10 pounds himself before he joined the military.

"This is the future of our Army we are looking at when we talk about these 17- to 24-year-olds," Howell said. "The sad thing is a lot of them want to join but can't."

How do you feel about this? Personally I'm glad for the issue to be taken into consideration again. However, I find it sick and twisted that the only two times in my nations (USA) history when we actually looked into how our children are being fed is while considering if they are fit enough to die in war.

[jannge]

I first believed you were a Spambot

But now, I'm just confused

Good about this=Healthier kids
Ba about this=They just do this to get soldiers

[imnothere]

i'll agree that it is the wrong reason to say we need to feed our children better. several states have passed or tried to pass legislation improving the quality of lunches served. individual school boards that i'm aware of have taken smaller steps, only providing water in the vending machines, or "healthy" snacks that sort of thing. but the root of the problem is that school budgets are tight as is and its cheaper to buy the less healthy food and serve it up then it is to acquire and maintain quality in a "good" lunch. or so i have always been told.

[Skirata]

I laughed.....






<_<

[Revoltion]

I like my Pizza and fries for lunch.

[wowboy]

I like my Pizza and fries for lunch.

I laughed.....






<_<

me too hmm hungrey

[BigBlugga]

Taking good food out of school lunches will not do a thing.

Kids will still have access to this out of school.

At least the kids are a little happy to get good food.

Changing from this will lead to unrest in schools.

[imnothere]

you can eat healthy and tasty! i do!!

[SunTzu123]

66% of americans are overwieght or obese

[Axer NZ]

What we need to do is set a strict ration for every person and ship the excess food as aid to China and the Middle East so that they become bloated whales, perfect fodder for our uber-fit killing machines.