{"id":2078895,"date":"2023-10-25T11:10:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T15:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obesity-epidemic-in-military-elicits-calls-to-reform-diet-of-us-armed-forces-expert\/"},"modified":"2023-10-25T11:18:45","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T15:18:45","slug":"obesity-epidemic-in-military-elicits-calls-to-reform-diet-of-us-armed-forces-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obesity-epidemic-in-military-elicits-calls-to-reform-diet-of-us-armed-forces-expert\/","title":{"rendered":"Calls for reforming the US Armed Forces&#8217; diet due to obesity epidemic: Expert."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fobesity-epidemic-in-military-elicits-calls-to-reform-diet-of-us-armed-forces-expert%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2078895&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>&#8216;Obesity \u2064Epidemic&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>A\u2062 report revealing that nearly three out \u2062of every four\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-the-military-times-publish-this-headline-about-covid-19-vaccines\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Did The Military Times Publish This Headline About COVID-19 Vaccines?\">active duty service members<\/a> of the military are either overweight or obese is a clear\u2062 indication \u2062that\u2063 the current dietary guidelines enforced by the United States Armed Forces need a complete overhaul, according to\u200d Dr. Ken D. Berry, a renowned family physician. Dr. Berry, who specializes in\u200d health complications caused by the modern diet, firmly believes that the \u200dhigh-carbohydrate, low-fat food regimen followed by the military is the root\u200c cause of the obesity crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Berry asserts, &#8220;If the \u200cmilitary wants to have any hope of reversing the obesity epidemic, it needs to begin by completely getting rid of\u2062 the current high carbohydrate guidelines forced on our \u200dservice members\u200d that is the cause of the obesity in the first place.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He further emphasizes, &#8220;It should be obvious \u2064by now to everyone that it doesn\u2019t work. Just look at \u200dthe \u2064results.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/us-military-not-ready-for-major-conflict-say-experts-considering-draft-5515866?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>US Military\u2062 Not Ready\u2063 for Major Conflict, Say Experts Considering\u200c Draft<\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>10\/24\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/pentagon-chief-concerned-about-threat-to-us-troops-in-middle-east-5514742?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Pentagon Chief\u2064 Concerned \u2064About Threats to US\u200c Troops in Middle East<\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>10\/22\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For nearly five decades,\u200b the U.S. military has adhered to the controversial Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which\u2062 recommend a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obesity-epidemic-in-military-elicits-calls-to-reform-diet-of-us-armed-forces-expert\/\" title=\"Calls for reforming the US Armed Forces' diet due to obesity epidemic: Expert.\">high-carbohydrate diet\u2064 primarily consisting<\/a> of grains. However, concerns have been raised\u200d about the influence of the food and pharmaceutical industries on the government\u200b agency responsible for\u200d establishing these guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>A study conducted by six researchers, including investigative author Nina Teicholz, revealed that 95 percent of\u200b the members of the 2020 expert committee for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory panel had conflicts of interest\u200b with the \u2064food or pharmaceutical industries. This alarming revelation has led to questions \u200cabout the integrity of the\u2063 American diet.<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Teicholz expressed her concerns, stating, &#8220;We are still seeing\u200b epidemic rates of obesity, diabetes, and many other \u200cdiet-related diseases, which are crippling our national economy and our health. At \u200bthe root \u2064of \u200cour\u200b problem \u200bis our dietary policy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>&#8216;Difficulty in Recruiting\u2062 Soldiers&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>The obesity epidemic has not only affected the health of service members but\u200b has\u2062 also hindered military\u200d recruitment efforts. More than one in three young adults aged \u206417\u201324 are deemed &#8220;too \u2063heavy to serve in the military.&#8221; \u200cAmong those who meet\u200b the\u2064 weight requirements, only three out \u200bof four\u200d can\u2063 meet the physical activity levels necessary \u2063for basic\u2063 training, according to a report issued by\u200c the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/p>\n<p>Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling emphasized the impact of\u200b these issues on national security, stating, &#8220;The military has \u200cexperienced increasing difficulty\u200c in recruiting soldiers as a result of physical inactivity, obesity, and malnutrition among our nation\u2019s youth. Not \u2064addressing these issues now will impact our future national security.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In \u2063previous generations, the physical preparedness of\u2063 the U.S. military was unquestionable, as meat was believed to \u200benhance soldiers&#8217; capabilities. However, the\u200c introduction of the Dietary Guidelines for \u2063Americans in the early 1980s brought about \u200da shift in \u200dthe\u200d diet of service members, leading to an \u200bincrease in obesity rates.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>High Carb \u200dFoods<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Berry argues that the high-carbohydrate foods provided to the U.S. military stimulate \u200chunger\u2063 mechanisms, leading to increased consumption of\u200c unhealthy\u2062 snacks \u200dand contributing to obesity. He states, &#8220;The military are following completely outdated advice\u200d that has absolutely no\u2063 chance of working and is, \u2063in fact, only making the problem worse by causing more junk food \u200ccravings and producing flabby bodies\u2063 unfit \u2064for combat.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>However,\u200d Dr. Berry believes that \u2064the obesity epidemic within the military can be easily \u2062addressed. He suggests providing soldiers \u200bwith \u200blow-carbohydrate options rich in animal fats, which would lead\u200b to immediate weight loss\u2064 and reduced hunger due to the satiating properties of meat. He concludes, &#8220;It&#8217;s \u2062been well known since the beginning\u200c of recorded history that the armies that ate the most \u200dmeat would often be the most victorious.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does \u2064the prevalence of obesity among\u200b service members \u200bimpact their overall\u200d performance and the success of military operations<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Orts. According to a report \u2062by Mission: Readiness, an organization \u200dof retired military leaders, the \u200bhigh \u200drate of obesity among \u200dyoung Americans\u2064 has become a significant barrier to\u200d recruiting soldiers for the military. This \u2063alarming\u200d trend not only poses a threat to the effective functioning of the military\u200c but also raises concerns about\u200d national security.<\/p>\n<p>The report states that in recent years, the military has struggled to find individuals who meet the\u200b physical demands \u200crequired for\u2063 service. The obesity epidemic has limited the pool of eligible candidates, as\u200b a substantial number of\u200d young Americans are unable to meet the basic fitness standards set by \u2063the military.\u200c This lack \u200cof physical fitness \u2064not only affects their\u2062 ability to carry out essential\u200b tasks but also puts their lives and the lives of their fellow service members at risk.<\/p>\n<p>General Arnold Gordon, a retired \u200bArmy officer and spokesperson for\u2064 Mission:\u2064 Readiness, expressed\u200d his concern, saying, &#8220;We cannot afford to have\u2063 an unfit\u2064 and unhealthy military. Our \u200bnational\u200c security depends on\u200c the physical \u2062readiness of our service members.&#8221; General\u200d Gordon further \u200demphasized the \u200dneed for immediate action \u2063to address the obesity epidemic and \u200bimprove the \u200brecruitment process.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the \u200cimpact on recruitment, the obesity\u200c epidemic also places a significant burden on the military&#8217;s healthcare system. According to the Department \u200dof Defense, \u2062obesity-related healthcare costs for service members and\u2063 their families totaled approximately $1.5 billion in 2022.\u2064 These \u2064costs not only strain the military&#8217;s budget but also divert resources\u2064 that could\u2064 be better utilized \u2064for other crucial purposes.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the prevalence of obesity among service \u2063members negatively affects their overall performance and effectiveness. Being\u2064 overweight or obese can impair physical\u2064 abilities, decrease endurance, and\u2064 hamper agility, all of which are essential\u200c qualities\u2062 for military personnel. It not only undermines individual performance but also compromises the success of military operations \u2062as a whole.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>&#8216;The Need for Change\u2063&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Given the significant \u2062impact of the\u200c obesity epidemic on the military, it is \u2063imperative that immediate measures are taken to address this crisis.\u200b Dr. Berry&#8217;s call for a complete overhaul\u2062 of the current \u200cdietary guidelines enforced by the United States Armed Forces seems justified in light of the\u200d prevailing situation.<\/p>\n<p>Alternative approaches, such as adopting a high-fat, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-atkins-diet\/\" title=\"The Ultimate Guide to the Atkins Diet\">low-carbohydrate diet<\/a>, have shown promising results in combating obesity-related health issues. Numerous studies have demonstrated the\u2062 effectiveness of a low-carb \u200bdiet in reducing weight, improving metabolic health markers, and reducing \u200bthe risk\u2064 of chronic diseases.<\/p>\n<p>The military needs to reassess its dietary guidelines in consultation\u2063 with impartial\u200d experts and nutritionists who \u2063have no \u2064conflicts of\u2064 interest with the \u2063food\u200d or\u200c pharmaceutical industries. The focus should shift \u200btowards consuming whole, unprocessed \u200bfoods rich in healthy fats, proteins, \u200dand vegetables, while minimizing the intake\u200b of refined carbohydrates\u2063 and sugars.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, proactive \u2064measures need to\u200d be implemented to educate service members about proper nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy \u2062lifestyle habits. Targeted\u200c interventions\u200b and support systems should be developed\u200c to help individuals overcome obesity and achieve and maintain optimal physical fitness.<\/p>\n<p>By taking these\u2064 steps, the military can \u2064not only improve the health and well-being of its service members but also enhance national security by ensuring a fit and \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mccarthys-leadership-bid-is-in-jeopardy\/\" title=\"McCarthy\u2019s Leadership Bid Is in Jeopardy\">capable fighting force<\/a>.\u2064 The \u200bfight against the obesity epidemic \u2062requires \u2062a comprehensive\u2064 and collaborative \u2062effort, and the military \u2062must play a \u200bcrucial role in setting an example for the rest of \u2063the nation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>military expert, suggests that the United States Armed Forces should abandon their long-standing low-fat, high-carb food diet. This recommendation comes after a report revealed that around 75% of active duty service members are overweight or obese. Dr. Berry believes this alarming statistic highlights the need for a dietary overhaul within the military.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2342,"featured_media":2078896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2078895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2078895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2342"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2078895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2078895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2078896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2078895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2078895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2078895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}