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douglas9

(4,358 posts)
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 08:58 AM Sep 2019

The Navy beats out the Air Force as the fattest branch, somehow

You'd expect a force commonly derided as a "Chair Force" to rank pretty high on a list of U.S. service branches by obesity, but apparently the Navy has snatched that king-size throne from the flyboys in the Air Force.

According to the 2018 Health of the DOD Force report published in the August edition of the Pentagon's Medical Surveillance Monthly Report, 22% of sailors are classified as obese by military standards, well above both the 18.1% of airmen and the average of 17.4% across the entire DoD that meet that definition.

"While injury, sleep disorders, and BH conditions remain important threats to Navy readiness, this report highlights obesity as a growing health concern among Sailors," the report says. "Obesity contributes to hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, all-cause mortality, and increased healthcare costs. It also contributes to failure of Sailors to meet physical fitness standards.

By contrast, the Army clocked in at thee Pentagon average of a 17.4% obesity rate while the Marine Corps came in at an 8.3% obesity rate, likely due, as Military.com notes, to the size and relative youth of its force.


https://taskandpurpose.com/navy-fattest-military-branch

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Navy beats out the Air Force as the fattest branch, somehow (Original Post) douglas9 Sep 2019 OP
That chiefs mess Docreed2003 Sep 2019 #1
how do you define senior officer? qazplm135 Sep 2019 #2
Well I was never flag rank Docreed2003 Sep 2019 #3
You're just hoping TEB doesn't see that. DashOneBravo Sep 2019 #7
Lmao Docreed2003 Sep 2019 #8
I sent him a DU mail DashOneBravo Sep 2019 #9
Interesting TEB Sep 2019 #10
What was it that he told you? DashOneBravo Sep 2019 #11
I posted article on vets board at work TEB Sep 2019 #12
When I was in a Joint Intel unit we ahd all services The Polack MSgt Sep 2019 #4
A sailor who can't fit through a scuttle while in battle dress ought not be in the Navy Kaleva Sep 2019 #5
Does it have anything to do with duty aboard the confines of a ship? Aristus Sep 2019 #6

Docreed2003

(16,858 posts)
1. That chiefs mess
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 09:04 AM
Sep 2019

It always amused me during PFA season how many overweight folks in senior enlisted leadership somehow got a pass on the taping for BMI...senior officers too for that matter

Docreed2003

(16,858 posts)
3. Well I was never flag rank
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 12:21 PM
Sep 2019

We we're ALWAYS expected to be within standards, promotion depended on it...flag rank was what I was referring to.

TEB

(12,841 posts)
12. I posted article on vets board at work
Wed Sep 11, 2019, 01:08 PM
Sep 2019

We have some plump former swabbies I get em wound up

Today when I got back one was stuffing his mouth with cheesecake I’m like really. What happens if the navy recalls you in time of need I got a f..ck you I said drive on.

The Polack MSgt

(13,186 posts)
4. When I was in a Joint Intel unit we ahd all services
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 02:20 PM
Sep 2019

and the Navy Crypto Tech and Yeomen were by far the roundest of the 4 services.

The Marines were by far the leanest.

That doesn't mean the us "Chairmen" were all in shape - Not even close.

But the Company E Marines were studs 301st IS and 750th MIB were about the same office dweller types and Naval Security Group were led by a SNCO corps that seemed to be assembled from bratwursts

Kaleva

(36,294 posts)
5. A sailor who can't fit through a scuttle while in battle dress ought not be in the Navy
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 04:28 PM
Sep 2019

I would not want to be trapped in a burning and/or flooding compartment because SN Fred Flintstone was stuck in the scuttle.

Aristus

(66,316 posts)
6. Does it have anything to do with duty aboard the confines of a ship?
Sat Sep 7, 2019, 12:25 PM
Sep 2019

Kind of hard to do 25-mile marches or 5-mile runs on board a naval vessel.

Hell, the PT I did every morning on duty in the Army wasn't enough exercise to stay physically fit, even in a combat arms role like crewing a tank. A lot of guys went to the gym after work, or put in a pretty solid workout on the weekends.

I used to love getting up early on Sunday mornings and go for a run around the post when it was nice and quiet.

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