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By Lance
M. Bacon, Army Times
Soldiers
are dangerously starving themselves, gobbling diet pills and laxatives — even
resorting to costly liposuction surgery — all to meet the Army's weight
standards and avoid
losing their careers, according to military personnel who spoke to Army Times.
losing their careers, according to military personnel who spoke to Army Times.
Health experts say the number of soldiers using extreme weight-loss
methods may closely resemble results of a recent study by two officers
attending the Naval
Post Graduate School. The study found that nearly one in three Marines
have gone to such measures to lose weight. The Army doesn't keep data
on the likely numbers of soldiers taking these risks, but dozens of
soldiers responded to a question from Army Times, many saying they use starvation, dehydration, pills or laxatives, and some have used — or are considering using — liposuction.
have gone to such measures to lose weight. The Army doesn't keep data
on the likely numbers of soldiers taking these risks, but dozens of
soldiers responded to a question from Army Times, many saying they use starvation, dehydration, pills or laxatives, and some have used — or are considering using — liposuction.
Additionally, more than a third of men in uniform do not meet height and
weight standards, according to a separate 2009 report.
"Liposuction saved my career — laxatives and starvation before an
(Army Physical Fitness Test) sustains my career," a soldier told Army
Times in an e-mail. "I for one can attest
that soldiers are using liposuction, laxatives and starvation to meet
height and weight standards. I did, do and still do," wrote the
soldier, a medium helicopter repairer.
that soldiers are using liposuction, laxatives and starvation to meet
height and weight standards. I did, do and still do," wrote the
soldier, a medium helicopter repairer.
"Six years ago, I spent $4,500 on liposuction while on (permanent
change of station) leave. As a crewmember, our mission is to keep those
aircraft in the air, and time for PT is not
available," he wrote. "I was blessed with a very slow metabolism and an
insatiable appetite."
available," he wrote. "I was blessed with a very slow metabolism and an
insatiable appetite."
Soldiers know they will face the dreaded "tape" if they exceed
height/weight standards. The tape measurements are used to determine body fat
percentage, with limits set by age group and
gender.
gender.
Soldiers are afraid of those limits, knowing that if they cross that
line they won't be promotable. Further, they cannot be assigned to leadership
positions and they are not authorized
to attend professional military schools. Their career is over if they
don't make satisfactory weight loss in two months — typically six to 16
pounds.
to attend professional military schools. Their career is over if they
don't make satisfactory weight loss in two months — typically six to 16
pounds.
The danger to careers is real.
About 24,000 soldiers were discharged between 1992 and 2007 for failure
to comply with weight standards outlined in Army Regulation 600-9, according to
the 2009 Military Services Fitness
Database report, which was published in the journal Military Medicine.
In comparison, the Army discharged less than a tenth of that number —
2,342 soldiers — for failing the physical fitness test between 1999 and
2007.
Database report, which was published in the journal Military Medicine.
In comparison, the Army discharged less than a tenth of that number —
2,342 soldiers — for failing the physical fitness test between 1999 and
2007.
To save their careers, some soldiers turn to excessive, unnatural and
unhealthy measures.
Extent of practice not known
With 35% of male soldiers failing the weight standards, and 6% of men
and women exceeding body fat standards, according to the 2009 report, how many
of them will turn to extreme
solutions is hard to say, as empirical data on this practice does not
exist — a fact bemoaned by the medical experts interviewed by Army Times.
solutions is hard to say, as empirical data on this practice does not
exist — a fact bemoaned by the medical experts interviewed by Army Times.
"I don't think we have a clear understanding how widespread this
problem is," said Col. George Dilly, Medical Command's chief dietician and
a consultant to the Army surgeon general. "Soldiers
are hiding the fact they are doing this because they don't want the
problem exposed."
are hiding the fact they are doing this because they don't want the
problem exposed."
Dilly said the typical scenario is well known. As a soldier approaches
his semi-annual weigh-in, he may use diuretics and laxatives to reduce fluid
and lower his weight. But this can be a
deadly decision, Dilly said, because it causes dehydration, and the
loss of essential electrolytes can lead to cardiac arrest. Worse yet,
this approach has no effect on the individual's body fat.
deadly decision, Dilly said, because it causes dehydration, and the
loss of essential electrolytes can lead to cardiac arrest. Worse yet,
this approach has no effect on the individual's body fat.
"This is not a long-term strategy," he said. "In fact,
it's a very dangerous short-term strategy."
Second Lt. Lane Stover knows this all too well. The 5-foot-4-inch
quartermaster said she went to extreme measures to keep the weight off.
"When I ate more than I thought I should, I would purge, and punish
myself by heading to the gym or out on a late-night run," she said in an
e-mail to Army Times. "I would
often take laxatives, in excess of the prescribed amount, and knew
exactly how long it would take for them to go into effect. It was a
disgusting and dangerous practice that I thought would help me.
often take laxatives, in excess of the prescribed amount, and knew
exactly how long it would take for them to go into effect. It was a
disgusting and dangerous practice that I thought would help me.
Stover said she entered therapy and went to support groups to fix her
problem, but said one problem remains.
"My behaviors aren't the only problem. The Army's weight standard
is," she said. "Until the Army takes a closer look at the weight
regulations and methods for determining body fat,
soldiers will resort to extreme measures to ensure they are within
their weight requirements."
soldiers will resort to extreme measures to ensure they are within
their weight requirements."
Alejandra Lewis said she had taken laxatives and starved herself "a
couple of times" in preparation for the PT test. She said the problem was
not her weight, but the way the Army measures body
fat.
fat.
"Every person has a different shape of body; not everyone is the
same," she wrote to Army Times. "When I joined the military I
went down 80 pounds starving myself and (using) laxatives. I had to do it
because even though I had met weight,
I have thick thighs. The tape measure said I was over, so I had to lose
even more weight just to meet the standards. They need to change it
because it isn't fair."
I have thick thighs. The tape measure said I was over, so I had to lose
even more weight just to meet the standards. They need to change it
because it isn't fair."
The fact that soldiers are taking these steps is no secret in the
cosmetic-surgery community.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Melissa Gash, based at Fort Riley, Kan., said
she recently saw a poster for liposuction at the post gym.
"The bottom of the poster clearly states that advertisement does
not mean endorsement, but the fact that material like that is even allowed on
post, and more specifically where soldiers
go to get fit, is inappropriate," she said. "It gives the soldier the
false impression that liposuction should even be an option. Americans
are all about fast results and immediate gratification. Whatever
happened to working hard to accomplish a goal and feeling the
satisfaction after earning what you set your sights on?"
go to get fit, is inappropriate," she said. "It gives the soldier the
false impression that liposuction should even be an option. Americans
are all about fast results and immediate gratification. Whatever
happened to working hard to accomplish a goal and feeling the
satisfaction after earning what you set your sights on?"
But military health professionals say troops should not believe all the
hype — and should be aware of the risks involved.
"We want soldiers to look right," said Dr. Thomas Williams, a
retired colonel who heads the Army Physical Fitness Research Institute.
"But they also need to feel right and perform
right, and you can't get that from a pill or a procedure."
right, and you can't get that from a pill or a procedure."
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Stover
said she entered therapy and went to support groups to fix her problem, but
said one problem remains.
"My behaviors aren't the only problem. The Army's weight standard is," she said. "Until the Army takes a closer look at the weight regulations and methods for determining body fat, soldiers will resort to extreme measures to ensure they are within their weight requirements."
These stories are from the Professional Fighting Military Personnel, of the greatest military force on the planet. This crushes the try harder Lifestyle message that many continue to convey. How can we expect a 7 year to address this ? Under resourced , under educated and under attack . I am calling on you, the reader , to get involved.
"I use to think 'someone should do something about that'. Then I realized I was someone. - Lily Tomlin
.
"My behaviors aren't the only problem. The Army's weight standard is," she said. "Until the Army takes a closer look at the weight regulations and methods for determining body fat, soldiers will resort to extreme measures to ensure they are within their weight requirements."
These stories are from the Professional Fighting Military Personnel, of the greatest military force on the planet. This crushes the try harder Lifestyle message that many continue to convey. How can we expect a 7 year to address this ? Under resourced , under educated and under attack . I am calling on you, the reader , to get involved.
"I use to think 'someone should do something about that'. Then I realized I was someone. - Lily Tomlin
.
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