Army May Start a Fat Camp

The biggest problem preventing young recruits from entering the military in the years ahead is not off the list of traditional barriers -- lack of a high school diploma, GED, a criminal record or health problems. Nope, it's fat. Girth. High body fat percentages. In the past four years nearly 50,000 flunked induction physicals because they were overweight.

Just like you can't have fat firefighters, you can't have a fat military. But with obesity rates through the charts since 1980, it's no wonder one Army recruiter, Major General Thomas Bostick, is considering opening a fat camp at the Army Prep School in South Carolina, a school where recruits earn their GED before entering basic training.

One recruiter in Columbia reported about three out of every 10 applicants are denied due to obesity, with an additional 20 to 30 percent slightly overweight. Some slim down on their own and enroll, but 18 years of poor habits can be tough to shake. I find this military fat camp concept very sobering. These kids should be slim and healthy with a full life ahead -- not rejected from boot camp due to obesity. This is serious, losing 50 pounds is not easy.