Obesity in civilian adults: potential impact on eligibility for U.S. military enlistment.
OBJECTIVE
This study measures the prevalence in the civilian adult population of obesity for military enlistment.


METHODS
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2001-2004 was used to obtain a sample of civilian adults 17 to 42 years of age. Weight standards for each branch of service were applied to determine the proportion of subjects who were over maximal weight limits and thus ineligible for enlistment.


RESULTS
Depending on the branch of service and the age range, 17.9% to 54.4% of men and 20.8% to 54.9% of women were overweight for enlistment. Generally, there were higher prevalence rates in the older age groups and among women. Prevalence rates for non-Caucasian subjects were not higher among men but were higher among women.


CONCLUSIONS
Large proportions of civilian adults are over the weight limits for military enlistment. The currently increasing prevalence of obesity in the civilian population may pose a challenge for military recruitment programs.
Epidemiology Services Branch, Air Force Institute for Operational Health, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5116, USA.
Grover K
GK
Yamane
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology