Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, and according to new data, if you’re a veteran, the need to drop those extra pounds has never been more acute. A new survey conducted by Westat on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project polled more than 33,000 post-9/11 veterans and service members, and found that, alarmingly, more than half of all survey respondents were obese, based on their body mass index measurements.
Of those, about 7 percent were morbidly obese. What’s more, the number of obese service members increased by more than 3 percent since a 2014 survey, the report found.
At least part of the weight problem stems from inactive lifestyles and poor eating habits, problems that plague civilians as well. The Wounded Warrior study found only about four out of every 10 respondents exercised three or more times a week, with the remaining 60 percent leading relatively sedentary lifestyles.
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week — about a half-hour five days a week — to help keep heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression and other serious medical problems at bay.
The survey also found veterans were far less likely to make healthy eating choices compared to eating snacks and unhealthy foods. About a third of all respondents said they ate less than one serving of fruit per day on average, while about 44 percent reported having one daily serving, well below the minimum amounts recommended by the USDA. By contrast, nearly 10 percent said they consumed four or more snacks per day.
Veterans aren’t the only ones plagued by unhealthy habits. An earlier study released this year by RAND found active-duty military are also exhibiting similar unhealthy behaviors. According to that study, about two-thirds of service members are either overweight or obese, mirroring civilian statistics. In fact, a 2015 report found as many as a third of young potential recruits were considered too overweight to enlist in the military.
The RAND study included about 18,000 service members from all branches of the military, and found that while unhealthy behaviors and obesity existed in all branches, the Army was the most affected, with nearly 70 percent of troops qualifying as overweight or obese. The Coast Guard was next at 67.8 percent, followed by the Navy (64.6 percent), Air Force (63.1 percent) and Marine Corps (60.9 percent).
Being overweight and obese significantly increases a person’s risks for major medical problems, including heart disease. And it can also contribute to mood disorders like depression for both vets and active service members. According to the Wounded Warrior study, many vets listed fear of injury and feeling uncomfortable in social settings as primary reasons for not being more physically active.
The study’s authors suggest other issues like sleep problems and depression are also to blame. Interestingly, sleep disorders and anxiety can also be exacerbated by lack of exercise and poor diet, creating an unhealthy cycle that can be hard to break.
Being overweight or obese also increases the risks for injuries, and it can compound problems with the joints and musculoskeletal system as well as the cardiovascular system. Losing just five to 10 percent of body weight can result in decreased cholesterol levels and a decreased risk of high blood pressure, as well as improved sleep habits and improved mood.
For those seeking to lose a few pounds this new year, incorporating a healthy diet combined with low-impact activities like walking or swimming into a daily routine can yield big results.
