Fatties Can't Fight?

[The Dark Lord]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8655651.stm

 

 

Rising rates of obesity among young Americans could undermine the future of the US military, two retired generals have warned.

 

More than a quarter of young Americans are now too fat to fight, they said.

 

Writing in the Washington Post, the ex-commanders said the fat crisis ruled out more potential military service recruits than any other medical factor.

 

They want Congress to introduce laws to give US children better nutrition in schools, with less sugar, salt and fat.

 

John Shalikashvili and Hugh Shelton, both former chairmen of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote: "Obesity rates threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our military."

 

"We consider this problem so serious from a national security perspective that we have joined more than 130 other retired generals, admirals and senior military leaders in calling on Congress to pass new child nutrition legislation," the commanders added.

 

The warning comes amid mounting fears that childhood obesity has turned into an "epidemic" affecting an astonishing one in three young American people.

 

Mr Shalikashvili and Mr Shelton pointed to post-school lunch laws from 1946, which recognised that poor nutrition reduced the pool of military recruits.

 

"We must act, as we did after World War II, to ensure that our children can one day defend our country, if need be."

 

Obesity rates in the US have surged over the last year, according to one report .

 

The Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found adult obesity rates rose in 23 of the 50 states, but fell in none.

 

This is what the terrorists want. They want us to be fat. They want us to not be able to catch them....

 

I agree. The obesity rate is alarming. Personally, my school sells snacks during lunchtime, and they allow people to purchase "double fries" and then plaster the fries with chili and cheese fondue while simultaneously purchasing two ice cream sandwiches and Poptarts. It's disturbing.

[Guest Mrmegakirby]

When somebody is to fat to fight, what do you do? Use them as a riot sheild.

 

On a more serious note, the obesity rate is quite scary. Personally I think students should have to have an hour of exercise a day, rather then twice a week (as i'm getting now).

[The Dark Lord]

When somebody is to fat to fight, what do you do? Use them as a riot sheild.

 

Well, you could have them tackle the enemy. :rolleyes:

[Alg]

Kind of thinking that we brought it on ourselves, what with cutting PE classes and going for the really cheap fattening foods in schools. When I was in middle school we had PE every other day and the only food that the school sold were sugary snack foods and relatively unhealthy food from a local restaurant.

 

Dammit, budget cuts are going to cost us the war on terrer!@!#!@

[Aiel]

we dont need more government regulations on what we can eat in schools. We need parents to show there kids health choices, and kids to have self control. More PE would definitely help though.

[Giordano]

I'm still not seeing the problem of being fat to society. Personally, yeah its health problems and such, but to society...I'm not seeing it.

 

Diets and exercise are personal matters and I strongly disagree with schools enforcing it more. PE is okay to an certain extent (I had PE Middle School, every day, and 9-10th grade in High School everyday. That's the max I think I would want it).

 

Also to spice it up, schools can save a lot of money buy removing their lunch programs and replacing them with regular, private restaurants, though only in High School because younger kids won't have restraint. Now that I get taken to and from school with a buddy instead of my parents, we have a lot more freedom and usually hit Jack in the Box after school. Do I eat it everyday? Hell no, I'll get fat. But if somebody else wants to eat burgers and ignores the possible consequences, then who is to say we to stop them?

 

Other than physical ugliness, being fat has no effects on the other person. In the case of the military I suppose it would, but, the military should be training them for stuff like this.

[anonymous1234]

Because, you know, bringing a bagged lunch full of fruits and vegetables is out of the question. Gotta live off of fries.

[Lenin64]

This affects the military only in terms of the draft, I would think. The people that do actually want to join the military, in my experience, take care of themselves pretty well physically. Sure, they'll still eat fast food and whatnot but they exercise regularly and all that good stuff.

[The Dark Lord]

Because, you know, bringing a bagged lunch full of fruits and vegetables is out of the question. Gotta live off of fries.

 

My school actually doesn't want us to bring "outside food" into the school. :roll:

[anonymous1234]

Because, you know, bringing a bagged lunch full of fruits and vegetables is out of the question. Gotta live off of fries.

 

My school actually doesn't want us to bring "outside food" into the school. :roll:

Are you in a private school?

[Skull]

That's dumb. I only bring my lunch. Granted it's like oreos and a coke so I'm not exactly going for healthy. And on a somewhat related note I'm thinking of going vegetarian.

[Lenticular_J]

The army'll take 'em. The army'll take anyone. But there's a lot more running and dying.

 

And if they joined the Marines, they'd get their [wagon] kicked into shape...

 

Air Force gets to be as picky as they want.

 

The Navy doesn't even give a [bleep]. They're just happy someone wants to be their friend.

 

But nobody cares about the Coast Guard or National Guard ...

 

I've started being far healthier. Don't drink soda, don't eat nasty-[wagon] food. The only time it's tough is at lunch, because I cook everything at home. I just need to think of some things I can bring to school to eat. Next year I can come home and eat good food, but now I have to be particularly selective of the gross food around my school. And the school itself is probably the worst of all. Blargh.

 

And you guys should remember, being underweight is just as bad and carries just as many risks as being overweight. It's not very attractive, either.

[The Dark Lord]

Because, you know, bringing a bagged lunch full of fruits and vegetables is out of the question. Gotta live off of fries.

 

My school actually doesn't want us to bring "outside food" into the school. :roll:

Are you in a private school?

 

I attend a public high school.

[Napalm]

So it didn't scare them until they saw it from a military point of view?

 

Although I agree it IS a problem, I don't think they should take that aproach for passing those laws.

[sarg1010]

Oh man if you want to talk about bad food in schools... yesterday we had "pizza dippers"... basically a cheese stick wrapped with dough. The thing is, it wasn't cooked. AT ALL. And the cooks KNEW that. And served it to us anyway. Hell, most of the teachers returned the stuff because it was so inedible. We were literally eating raw dough with cheese inside of it. And I don't think it was real cheese anyway. Our school's food sucks :thumbdown:, besides just that. What we need is a reform of school lunches. Most of the food we get is terribly unhealthy for us. It's a no wonder most of the kids are over-weight. I think I may start bringing my lunch. Maybe subway, since that is decently healthy it seems.

[champion]

Oh man if you want to talk about bad food in schools... yesterday we had "pizza dippers"... basically a cheese stick wrapped with dough. The thing is, it wasn't cooked. AT ALL. And the cooks KNEW that. And served it to us anyway. Hell, most of the teachers returned the stuff because it was so inedible. We were literally eating raw dough with cheese inside of it. And I don't think it was real cheese anyway. Our school's food sucks :thumbdown:

Hahahaha, what the [bleep].

 

There's a lot of options at my school for what's available to eat, most moderately healthy. Except like 65% of the kids choose pizza, chocolate milk, and one other thing. Meh, that's their fault.

 

I bring my own healthy lunch.

[Giordano]

Oh man if you want to talk about bad food in schools... yesterday we had "pizza dippers"... basically a cheese stick wrapped with dough. The thing is, it wasn't cooked. AT ALL. And the cooks KNEW that. And served it to us anyway. Hell, most of the teachers returned the stuff because it was so inedible. We were literally eating raw dough with cheese inside of it. And I don't think it was real cheese anyway. Our school's food sucks :thumbdown:, besides just that. What we need is a reform of school lunches. Most of the food we get is terribly unhealthy for us. It's a no wonder most of the kids are over-weight. I think I may start bringing my lunch. Maybe subway, since that is decently healthy it seems.

I know, huh? Some people have reported their chocolate milk being "chunky" in some parts. They serve all microwavable foods though they use a big oven, though, it having all those preservatives for the long-term microwavable cooking isn't healthy neither. Plus, they're so freaking small. I can't see a football player eat that without buying two or three lunches and wasting a lot of money...

 

So, really, both opitions are unhealthy: private resturants and school lunch. They should just go to whatever cost less, no?

[rangeor]

Problem: Subway for lunch 5 days a week would cost $25. School lunch for 5 days a week would cost $15. If I went with Subway, I'd end up spending an additional $360 per year. Plus, even if I made my own lunch and managed to do it in a cheaper manner, I would have to find a way to make room for the lunch in my backpack. School lunch, even if it is more unhealthy, tends to be much more convenient and cheap than the alternatives. That's the problem.

 

If it was both healthy and cheap, then that would be fine. After that the next issue to tackle would be to make it actually taste good :P

 

Though I have been determined to find a cheap yet healthy lunch that could fit in my backpack, which is difficult since I barely have enough room in there anyways.

[jasignhagj]

Problem: Subway for lunch 5 days a week would cost $25. School lunch for 5 days a week would cost $15. If I went with Subway, I'd end up spending an additional $360 per year. Plus, even if I made my own lunch and managed to do it in a cheaper manner, I would have to find a way to make room for the lunch in my backpack. School lunch, even if it is more unhealthy, tends to be much more convenient and cheap than the alternatives. That's the problem.

 

If it was both healthy and cheap, then that would be fine. After that the next issue to tackle would be to make it actually taste good :P

 

Though I have been determined to find a cheap yet healthy lunch that could fit in my backpack, which is difficult since I barely have enough room in there anyways.

 

Yeah, but its worth the extra $10 a week for the meaty goodness of an Italian BMT.

 

This reminds me of a show i watched the other day, it was about some British guy who came to the schools in America's fattest town, and tried to get them to change their cafeterias. One of the schools was serving "Pressed chicken patties', and it showed that they were made by grinding up all the chicken scraps, adding fat and flour for filler, and then breading them.

[Saru Inc]

I'm still not seeing the problem of being fat to society. Personally, yeah its health problems and such, but to society...I'm not seeing it.

 

Diets and exercise are personal matters and I strongly disagree with schools enforcing it more. PE is okay to an certain extent (I had PE Middle School, every day, and 9-10th grade in High School everyday. That's the max I think I would want it).

 

Also to spice it up, schools can save a lot of money buy removing their lunch programs and replacing them with regular, private restaurants, though only in High School because younger kids won't have restraint. Now that I get taken to and from school with a buddy instead of my parents, we have a lot more freedom and usually hit Jack in the Box after school. Do I eat it everyday? Hell no, I'll get fat. But if somebody else wants to eat burgers and ignores the possible consequences, then who is to say we to stop them?

 

Other than physical ugliness, being fat has no effects on the other person. In the case of the military I suppose it would, but, the military should be training them for stuff like this.

 

 

You'll die from the plethora of diseases that lie in Jack in the Box food before you die of weight XD

 

And also, PE should be enforced, but I sense that is for a different time and place.

 

Anyways, the problem is: PE is very delicate, they need to "target" overweight people to try and lose weight. But the obvious problem is that they do it so condescendingly or "out in the open" (Cmon! You call THAT a push up?!) that it causes more self loathing i.e. more weight gain.

[Guest Mrmegakirby]

Subway is actually quite fattening.

[rangeor]

Subway is actually quite fattening.

Well sure, if you get a footlong meatball marinara on italian herbs and cheese bread every time (which is absolutely delicious btw). But if you're getting a turkey sandwich on wheat with some vegetables, it's not very fattening at all.

[Saru Inc]

^^ I always get 9 grain honey oat with chicken, toasted no cheese, and then a double portion each of lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. Then a slight drizzle of ranch. AMAZINGGGGGGG

[Nenga]

It's called exercise. The army will train you anyway, i'm sure if the army needs recruits they will also get you into shape, let kids enjoy being kids.

[Zygimantas]

I just make my own sandwiches for lunch. The problem I have with school lunches is that they are too expensive to keep me full and I usually don't like it. My school sells pizza slices at $2.15 each, so one day I decided to buy my lunch at school and it cost me $6.45 for 3 slices of pizza and it wasn't even that good.