Active Duty Obesity Statistics

[winterg]

We have a serious problem here in the US with rising obesity rates and it is getting worse. And it is becoming an issue for our Active Duty military as well. While we usually only talk about weight issues here in a uniform thread, I think it is a frank discussion that needs to be had everywhere on how we can revive a more health concious culture in today's society. 

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/and-the-fattest-us-military-service-is

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

[LSThiker]

We have a serious problem here in the US with rising obesity rates and it is getting worse. And it is becoming an issue for our Active Duty military as well. While we usually only talk about weight issues here in a uniform thread, I think it is a frank discussion that needs to be had everywhere on how we can revive a more health concious culture in today's society. 

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/and-the-fattest-us-military-service-is

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Careful there, you are now borderline body shaming.

This has been talked about for quite some time now.  There is a decent amount of information regarding this very concern in both primary journals and tertiary websites (note: I do not necessarily hold the same views nor endorse the organizations/articles/sources posted here for your information):

A talk given by Dr. Leary, Defense Health Board (pdf file link)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0ahUKEwjYheK4qdDPAhUl2oMKHccNBe4QFgg1MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.mil%2FReference-Center%2FPresentations%2F2013%2F11%2F18%2FDecision_Brief_Obesity&usg=AFQjCNGJbSJvH_SaFjqJ2bMHJam6iez0BQ&bvm=bv.135258522,d.amc&cad=rja

A 2015 primary paper in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (impact factor 2.4)
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/2/1174

A USAToday report back in 2009:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-02-09-obesity_N.htm

A 2008 report in Military Medicine (impact factor 0.77) regarding this:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5256769_The_Prevalence_of_Overweight_and_Obesity_among_US_Military_Veterans

A 2010 report on Phys.org regarding 25% of applicants are denied due to obesity
http://phys.org/news/2010-10-military-applicants-denied-due-obesity.html

[winterg]

That is one of the issues. Any talk about obesity is somehow seen as demeaning.  I know I have wrestled with the middle age bulge since I hit the big 4-oh and I know it isn't easy.  But if we don't talk about, the prophecy of Wall-E will come sooner than we think. 

Looking forward to perusing those articles when I get home LSThiker. 

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

[etodd]

You can't watch TV for more than a few minutes without some AD or PSA telling us how out of shape we are. We get bombarded with it in magazines, newspapers and TV as well.

Point being ... the 'message' is already out there and everyone know the problem and knows what to do.

But for 90% its all about will power. And its just too easy to 'put it off until tomorrow'. Again and again.

Folks need a specific reason. For me, I'm headed to the AME the end of this month to renew my 2nd class medical. Having that looming over my head helped me lose 30 pounds in the last 4 months. After the medical ... I may go celebrate with lots of BBQ ribs.  Then in two years have to take it off again. LOL

[Spam]

A data point: if someone is meeting the mission based fitness requirements for their assigned job, ideally I should not care if they're male, female, black, white, straight or not... or fat.

The work that my teams did in cockpit and crew systems design through the 90s and 00s showed that anthropometry and strength, and strength and endurance, were not as strongly correlated as you'd think for a range of combat tasks (Dr. Joe McDaniel of ASC was the coauthor with us of the applicable MIL-STD). This of course doesn't speak to the long term health issues for vets.

Anecdotally, I just returned FRI from a meeting with a few tier 1 guys and their aviators, of whom the majority were, lets say, "large and in charge". One CW5, who has a no kidding 39 years active service, has the belly of an 18 year old - actually two or three of them put together. More of a pony keg than a six pack. He, like his brother large soldiers there, is a highly decorated combat vet who can walk the walk despite having some on board reserves.  I've gone running with him, and he runs me into the dirt despite having a tight t shirt. Three months ago, I watched four of these guys run three miles in ACUs and boots in the Alabama summer heat to meet us for lunch at a Five Guys (they earned the calories).

So, my takeaway is that obesity is not always a mission kill, and it is not necessarily a willpower failure, and the data is descriptive but not necessarily predictive of job performance.

V/r
Spam

[Luis R. Ramos]

At my first Encampment, the other TAC officer--that time senior members assigned to cadet flights were called TACs--was over the USAF tables. In fact he had been discharged for that reason. He was 35 or 40. He told me that during a run, he had to carry his NCO supervisor weapon and others carry her. His claim that she was fitter than him per the USAF yet she could not accomplish the run w/o help.

Later during an activity several cadets were playing throwing water at each other. All of a sudden one of the 17 or 18 year old cadets dumps a cooler full of water on that man. And both start chasing each other. The cadet was not caught by the older guy, but he was always within a finger of getting caught. Despite the cadet having an initial 5-foot start in the run. A 35 or 40 year old running as fast as a 17 or 18 year old.

Bottom line?

Agreeing that body fat, weight, and height measurements are not always the best measurements of member mission capabilities.

[Live2Learn]

Bottom line?

Agreeing that body fat, weight, and height measurements are not always the best measurements of member mission capabilities.

BMI anyone? 

The debate over what is, is not "healthy" body fat amounts is similar to some of last year's discussion on the aviation boards when the FAA suggested BMI was the tool to catch sleep apnea in the bud. 

[etodd]

..... measurements of member mission capabilities.

There you go.  Make physical stats part of task guide requirements for particular SQTR sheets:

Ground Team members who may need to hike up and down steep rocky hills in very hot or cold and rainy conditions ... high physical fitness requirements.

Mission Base radio ops and similar ... no height/weight physical requirements.

Mission Scanners, Airborne Photographers, and Observers ...no height/weight physical requirements as long as PIC determines W&B is OK.

Etc., etc.

[abdsp51]

We have a serious problem here in the US with rising obesity rates and it is getting worse. And it is becoming an issue for our Active Duty military as well. While we usually only talk about weight issues here in a uniform thread, I think it is a frank discussion that needs to be had everywhere on how we can revive a more health concious culture in today's society. 

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/and-the-fattest-us-military-service-is

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Not  a valid source for information and political propoganda to support your pseudo senior pt program.

[winterg]

We have a serious problem here in the US with rising obesity rates and it is getting worse. And it is becoming an issue for our Active Duty military as well. While we usually only talk about weight issues here in a uniform thread, I think it is a frank discussion that needs to be had everywhere on how we can revive a more health concious culture in today's society. 

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/and-the-fattest-us-military-service-is

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Not  a valid source for information and political propoganda to support your pseudo senior pt program.

Thank you for your feedback, although I do not have any such program.  Nor is there any politics in this post. 

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

[abdsp51]

We have a serious problem here in the US with rising obesity rates and it is getting worse. And it is becoming an issue for our Active Duty military as well. While we usually only talk about weight issues here in a uniform thread, I think it is a frank discussion that needs to be had everywhere on how we can revive a more health concious culture in today's society. 

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/and-the-fattest-us-military-service-is

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Not  a valid source for information and political propoganda to support your pseudo senior pt program.

Thank you for your feedback, although I do not have any such program.  Nor is there any politics in this post. 

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Really anyone can do a search and see posts of you pushing for one and using the presidents one as a pseudo one.  Try again.... And frankly this is something that needs to be discussed between a person and their doctor along with all the health information. 

And bottom line people have to want to eat healthier and until eating healthier starts tasting better and becomes cheaper than the alternatives it won't. 

[winterg]

We have a serious problem here in the US with rising obesity rates and it is getting worse. And it is becoming an issue for our Active Duty military as well. While we usually only talk about weight issues here in a uniform thread, I think it is a frank discussion that needs to be had everywhere on how we can revive a more health concious culture in today's society. 

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/and-the-fattest-us-military-service-is

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Not  a valid source for information and political propoganda to support your pseudo senior pt program.

Thank you for your feedback, although I do not have any such program.  Nor is there any politics in this post. 

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Really anyone can do a search and see posts of you pushing for one and using the presidents one as a pseudo one.  Try again.... And frankly this is something that needs to be discussed between a person and their doctor along with all the health information. 

And bottom line people have to want to eat healthier and until eating healthier starts tasting better and becomes cheaper than the alternatives it won't.

Your passive aggressive comments aside.  Me and fellow CAP members encouraging each other and anyone else who wants to participate in the Presidents Physical Fitness program, or whatever it is called now, is not mrant to be a pseudo CAP Physical Fitness program. Should we have one? I think so. And I don't think it's that's a bad thing. But your remarks are trying to make it sound like I am pushing an agenda and that is not the case. I would  recommend that if you do not like the discussion, just don't participate in it.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

[abdsp51]

Your passive aggressive comments aside.  Me and fellow CAP members encouraging each other and anyone else who wants to participate in the Presidents Physical Fitness program, or whatever it is called now, is not mrant to be a pseudo CAP Physical Fitness program. Should we have one? I think so. And I don't think it's that's a bad thing. But your remarks are trying to make it sound like I am pushing an agenda and that is not the case. I would  recommend that if you do not like the discussion, just don't participate in it.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

And you will use any form of propaganda even information from a invalid source to advance your agenda.  You are pushing an agenda and that is clear to see.  If you don't like my comments don't read them. 

You advocate a mandated senior program when there is no desire nor need for one.  You use any type of data from and source regardless of credibility to further that ad-vocation. 

If you can't accept or take a counter view point then don't post anything that opens you up to it. 

[winterg]

I have never advocated a mandatory Physical Fitness program for senior members.  Please do not accuse me of things I have not done, sir. I have, however, frequently said a voluntary fitness program for senior members, not tied to any promotions, would be beneficial.  Please tell me how that makes me the bad guy with the evil agenda please. 

As for the source, please provide evidence that Military Times is not a trustworthy source for information and I will be happy to amend my OP with that caveat.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

[Spaceman3750]

Ground Team members who may need to hike up and down steep rocky hills in very hot or cold and rainy conditions ... high physical fitness requirements.

You might be surprised. At the end of the day it's just walking. Most people can put one foot in front of the other. Not all areas have these conditions either.

In my experience, most adults will know their limits and know when to call it quits. No reason to draw a line where none is needed.

[abdsp51]

I have never advocated a mandatory Physical Fitness program for senior members.  Please do not accuse me of things I have not done, sir. I have, however, frequently said a voluntary fitness program for senior members, not tied to any promotions, would be beneficial.  Please tell me how that makes me the bad guy with the evil agenda please. 

As for the source, please provide evidence that Military Times is not a trustworthy source for information and I will be happy to amend my OP with that caveat.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

The Military times had never been a trustworthy source of information just like Military.com or any other social media or media outlet claiming ties to the military.  They report a skewed version of things that occur and rarely provide anything else outside of entertainment.  So provide something with a little more to it than the  Military times.

[winterg]

I have never advocated a mandatory Physical Fitness program for senior members.  Please do not accuse me of things I have not done, sir. I have, however, frequently said a voluntary fitness program for senior members, not tied to any promotions, would be beneficial.  Please tell me how that makes me the bad guy with the evil agenda please. 

As for the source, please provide evidence that Military Times is not a trustworthy source for information and I will be happy to amend my OP with that caveat.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

The Military times had never been a trustworthy source of information just like Military.com or any other social media or media outlet claiming ties to the military.  They report a skewed version of things that occur and rarely provide anything else outside of entertainment.  So provide something with a little more to it than the  Military times.

Sorry. That sounds like opinion. 

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

[Spam]

..... measurements of member mission capabilities.

There you go.  Make physical stats part of task guide requirements for particular SQTR sheets:

Ground Team members who may need to hike up and down steep rocky hills in very hot or cold and rainy conditions ... high physical fitness requirements.

Mission Base radio ops and similar ... no height/weight physical requirements.

Mission Scanners, Airborne Photographers, and Observers ...no height/weight physical requirements as long as PIC determines W&B is OK.

Etc., etc.

If you were to delete the "height/weight" references, I'd be on board with that as a GTL/GBD, especially since it is a legal requirement of NIMS resource typing that CAP isn't observing at all (see below references). I wouldn't want to leave behind any motivated person who was "too" skinny, short, tall, or fat, (or too old/too young) IF they could keep up and pull their weight. For those that can't, this is why we have graduated standards (e.g. UDF).


Even then, I'd still use ORM to assign members to physically appropriate field tasks. I've had smart guys who, overhearing me brief two Ground Teams to scale two foggy ridgelines to search along an approach middle and outer marker, 'fessed up that they didn't feel physically able to assume such taskings (for which honesty I was filled with admiration - some less experienced men would have foolishly rushed forward in pride to failure, and to burden their fellow volunteers).


A good idea in theory at least for the nascent curriculum project. Providing position based guidance to qualification based on expected physical job tasks seems reasonable to me Most of the other volunteer SAR and VFD units I know do so - in accordance with NIMS, which we don't currently do. (emphasis added below)


V/r
Spam

https://www.fema.gov/nims-frequently-asked-questions


Q: What is a credential?
A: The terms "credentialed" and "credentialing" mean having provided or providing, respectively, documentation that identifies personnel and authenticates and verifies the qualifications of such personnel by ensuring that such personnel possess a minimum common level of training, experience, physical and medical fitness and capability appropriate for a particular position.

Q: NIMS Credentialing Guidelines: Who does it apply to?
A: By law, 6 U.S.C. § 320, NIMS Credentialing Guidelines are mandatory for each federal department and agency with responsibilities under the National Response Framework to ensure incident management personnel, emergency response providers, other personnel (including temporary personnel) and resources likely needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism or other manmade disaster are credentialed. They are voluntary and highly encouraged for federal legislative and judicial branches, state, local, tribal, private sector partners and non-governmental organizations.



MODIFIED to add examples from the fema.gov position descriptions/typing aids of what "credentialing" within the SAR working group job title criteria:

SAR Job Title 35: Wilderness Search and/or Rescue Technician
Description: A Wilderness Search and/or Rescue Technician is a member of a Wilderness SAR Team who searches for and rescues
those in trouble in urban/suburban as well as other environments.45
R E Q U I S I T E C R I T E R I A
The table below lists minimum requisite criteria, based on existing protocols and standards, for a Wilderness Search and/or Rescue
Technician to participate in the NIMS Integration Center's National Emergency Responder Credentialing System.
Physical/ Medical Fitness
Minimum physical fitness standards as required by the AHJ, such as:
• MRA 105.1 Fitness
• CO WSAR Fitness
• NWCG Pack Test "Arduous"
• MCSOMR/CAMRA Mountain Rescue Specific Physical Ability Test
(MRSPAT)
• NIMS WSAR Type II and IV Fitness

[Eclipse]

Based on the above two paragraphs, CAP certainly does this today.

[abdsp51]

I have never advocated a mandatory Physical Fitness program for senior members.  Please do not accuse me of things I have not done, sir. I have, however, frequently said a voluntary fitness program for senior members, not tied to any promotions, would be beneficial.  Please tell me how that makes me the bad guy with the evil agenda please. 

As for the source, please provide evidence that Military Times is not a trustworthy source for information and I will be happy to amend my OP with that caveat.

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

The Military times had never been a trustworthy source of information just like Military.com or any other social media or media outlet claiming ties to the military.  They report a skewed version of things that occur and rarely provide anything else outside of entertainment.  So provide something with a little more to it than the  Military times.

Sorry. That sounds like opinion. 

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

Sorry that's fact.  Neither the "Military Times" or "Military.com" are credible sources of information in regards to anything having to deal with the DoD.  Sorry but you need something better than them.