When contemplating the greatest threats to American national security, an aggressive communist China or expansionist Russia properly come to mind. However, there’s another threat closer to home, one that affects millions of Americans and is already affecting our national security.
It’s obesity.
More than 41% of Americans are categorized as obese (having a body mass index above 30). Of the U.S. population of 332 million, that adds up to 136 million obese Americans.
Obesity is much more serious than simply being overweight. It substantially increases the likelihood of health complications, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. Problematically, America’s obesity rate has been steadily increasing, rising more than 11 percentage points over the past 20 years.
So, while it might not be politically correct to point out the detrimental effects of obesity, America’s security demands it.
Indeed, obesity is one of the main contributors to the military recruiting crisis today. Among Americans ages 17 to 24, it is the single-largest disqualifier for military service, with 11% of American youth ineligible to serve as a result of being radically overweight or obese.