By Life Quotes, Inc.

A report shows that more than 9 million adults, or 27 percent of persons between the ages of 17 and 24, are too overweight to qualify for the military, according to Mission: Readiness, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization of retired military leaders concerned with the future security of the United States Armed Forces.

The increasing rates of childhood obesity have encouraged the military to support initiatives to curb unhealthy dietary habits, such as improving school lunch nutrition. Military officials believe that lowering obesity rates will expand the pool of young Americans eligible to join the military.

“We believe that the childhood obesity issue is so serious that it has become a threat to our national security,” Lt. Gen. Norman Seip said in a statement. “Mission: Readiness supports efforts by Sen. Richard Lugar and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to get new legislation on the books that will help reduce childhood obesity,” noted Seip.

Childhood obesity has sparked new debates in the financial, political and health sectors surrounding the costs of growing obesity rates. Obesity is an underlying factor in the development of health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Obese individuals are also forced to pay higher health and life insurance premiums.

To learn more about weight requirements in the military, read United States Military Body Fat Standards.

This article was originally published by Life Quotes, Inc.