SSG Izzy Abbass 811879 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This article identifies the fastest growing obese metro areas in the US. I'v heard that the military has been having greater trouble finding recruits because of the US being out of shape. What do you all think? <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/017/934/qrc/1-The-Most-Obese-Metro-Areas-in-America.jpg?1443048140"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://www3.forbes.com/pharma-healthcare/americas-fattest-cities/?utm_campaign=Americas-Fattest-Cities&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=3">America&#39;s Fattest Cities</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">The Most Obese Metro Areas in America Obesity rates nationwide are rapidly increasing. According to Gallup, the national rate in 2013 was 27.1% -- the highest it&#39;s been since the organization started tracking the numbers. But some communities&#39; obesity rates exceed even that. These metro a</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> How do you think obesity in youth is impacting our recruiting? 2015-07-13T15:12:27-04:00 SSG Izzy Abbass 811879 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This article identifies the fastest growing obese metro areas in the US. I'v heard that the military has been having greater trouble finding recruits because of the US being out of shape. What do you all think? <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/017/934/qrc/1-The-Most-Obese-Metro-Areas-in-America.jpg?1443048140"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://www3.forbes.com/pharma-healthcare/americas-fattest-cities/?utm_campaign=Americas-Fattest-Cities&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=3">America&#39;s Fattest Cities</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">The Most Obese Metro Areas in America Obesity rates nationwide are rapidly increasing. According to Gallup, the national rate in 2013 was 27.1% -- the highest it&#39;s been since the organization started tracking the numbers. But some communities&#39; obesity rates exceed even that. These metro a</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> How do you think obesity in youth is impacting our recruiting? 2015-07-13T15:12:27-04:00 2015-07-13T15:12:27-04:00 SFC Everett Oliver 811887 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My Great Niece is in basic training. She worked for 6 months to make the weight so she could join.... Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Jul 13 at 2015 3:17 PM 2015-07-13T15:17:51-04:00 2015-07-13T15:17:51-04:00 SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 811888 <div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-51407"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhow-do-you-think-obesity-in-youth-is-impacting-our-recruiting%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How+do+you+think+obesity+in+youth+is+impacting+our+recruiting%3F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fhow-do-you-think-obesity-in-youth-is-impacting-our-recruiting&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AHow do you think obesity in youth is impacting our recruiting?%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-do-you-think-obesity-in-youth-is-impacting-our-recruiting" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="953571889192b06757cd08849cd1dd53" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/051/407/for_gallery_v2/f9f7cb4d.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/051/407/large_v3/f9f7cb4d.jpg" alt="F9f7cb4d" /></a></div></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="18423" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/18423-ssg-izzy-abbass">SSG Izzy Abbass</a> I barely made in, I know how it feels. It was hard to get in, it took a lot of work but it paid off. Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 3:18 PM 2015-07-13T15:18:17-04:00 2015-07-13T15:18:17-04:00 CSM Charles Hayden 811898 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Try the food in those areas yourself. I was astounded to be served S O S topped with a sunny side up egg. Great flavors and great residual waistlines! Young adults lack of interest in regular life while being mesmerized with television and electronic entertainment are major contributors to the lack of activity which creates the terrible lack of physical conditioning! As long as young people can hangout without much exertion on their part, recruiters will have a problem. SSG Izzy Abbass, are you/can you imagine a recruiter trying to find a new recruit in today&#39;s world? Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 13 at 2015 3:21 PM 2015-07-13T15:21:45-04:00 2015-07-13T15:21:45-04:00 CSM Michael J. Uhlig 811928 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I'd rather pay the rent than the food bill! If they can't pass the initial health assessment screening, let them be! Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jul 13 at 2015 3:34 PM 2015-07-13T15:34:35-04:00 2015-07-13T15:34:35-04:00 SSgt Scott Schwerman 811985 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Trouble finding recruits? If the recruiter finds someone that is interested in joining/serving and have the drive (or even if you have to give them the drive), weight should not be a factor. Yes, it will take time for them to ship because they have to shed, but that shouldn't be the point. I personally was 27 when I enlisted and had to shed 30 lbs to ship. I did that within a few months healthily. So it should not be hard to find someone that is in shape, just finding the person who has that drive to succeed. Response by SSgt Scott Schwerman made Jul 13 at 2015 3:50 PM 2015-07-13T15:50:42-04:00 2015-07-13T15:50:42-04:00 CPT Aaron Kletzing 812922 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It is absolutely imperative that the DoD maintain SOME semblance of physical fitness requirements, even as these things are getting loosened in some ways across the force. If we let people join who are in horrible physical shape, then WTF kind of combat force are we even expecting to be anymore? If we are playing nice with potential recruits so that they enlist, and in turn are risking force readiness, then that's a huge no-no. Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jul 13 at 2015 11:52 PM 2015-07-13T23:52:28-04:00 2015-07-13T23:52:28-04:00 LCpl Mark Lefler 812940 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>considering we're downsizing, probably not much. Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jul 14 at 2015 12:01 AM 2015-07-14T00:01:31-04:00 2015-07-14T00:01:31-04:00 MSG Brad Sand 813289 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is nothing new. <br /><br />As a side note, I was amazed how much weight some very motivated young American would lose so they could join the military. The fact that they could, proves others can as well. Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 14 at 2015 9:18 AM 2015-07-14T09:18:08-04:00 2015-07-14T09:18:08-04:00 SSG Izzy Abbass 816647 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Food for thought - actually that might be the wrong reference <a target="_blank" href="http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/15/report-nearly-1-in-3-young-adults-too-fat-for-military/30178023/">http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/15/report-nearly-1-in-3-young-adults-too-fat-for-military/30178023/</a> Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 15 at 2015 12:05 PM 2015-07-15T12:05:45-04:00 2015-07-15T12:05:45-04:00 2015-07-13T15:12:27-04:00