Military’s Big Problem With Alabama
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Physical fitness is an important part of serving in the military. You have to pass certain requirements to get in, and keep up your healthy lifestyle.
But among the states and the District of Columbia, Alabama is the fourth worst in finding eligible recruits. Obesity is the main cause.
“A third of the youth in Alabama are disqualified from service based on their height and weight standards. Which is sad because Alabama is a very patriotic state, very pro military. People look at the military as a way to improve themselves,” said retired Lt. Gen. Allen Peck.
Lt. Gen. Peck is a member of Mission Readiness. The group is made up of retired military leaders from across the country.
Members have identified the problem, and say they have a fix. And it starts at school.
“What we’re attacking here is the opportunity to get good nutrition, starting at very young age at school, being presented with healthy options in school as opposed to process food, the sugary foods and so forth. Give them healthy options to eat,” said Lt. Gen. Peck.
General Peck has a student enrolled at LAMP, and says he’s seen improvements in the last few years.
The State Department of Education has been hard at work to make that happen. But changing habits is a slow process.
“We continue to improve that trend by allowing us to continue with the meal pattern as it stands. We are steaming more items, we have less fried foods. In fact we have removed deep fat fryers in a majority of the school buildings in the state of Alabama,” said June Barrett with the Alabama Department of Education.
