<blockquote> <p> In 2008, some 634 military personnel were discharged for transgressing "don't ask, don't tell." That same year, 4,555 were discharged for failing to meet military weight standards.</p>
</blockquote><p> In other words, for every soldier deemed unfit to defend our nation due to openness about his sexual orientation, more than seven more are sent home for having a body fat percentage of over 26 percent. The conclusion is clear: Obesity is a greater <a href="http://www.missionreadiness.org/research.html">threat to America's combat readiness </a>than homosexuality.</p><p> So, as <em>The New York Times</em> columnist <a href="http://markbittman.com/obesity-the-new-dont-ask-dont-tell">Mark Bittman suggests</a>, "maybe we should put the latter issue to bed and get on to the former." Besides, just imagine the possibilities if food system reform became a defense spending priority...</p><p> <em><a href="http://search.ahp.us.army.mil/search/images/?per=10&page=2579">Image</a> courtesy of U.S. Army.</em></p>
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