Unfit Army? Survey finds 30% overweight

[angeldemon_007]

NEW DELHI: A study on the health of Indian Army personnel has thrown up worrying results. Four out of five personnel surveyed, including officers, were found suffering from pre-hypertension, about a third were overweight and two-thirds had low levels of good cholesterol (HDL), caused by lack of exercise.

The sample survey was conducted by the defence ministry and Indian Council of Medical Research on 767 'healthy' personnel including 130 officers. Their ages ranged from 18 to 50 years.

The study also found a majority of the personnel had bad eating habits. Most of them added salt or pickle to their food and used ghee/butter regularly.

Alarmingly, the prevalence of pre-hypertension in the group was higher than in the general population. While 40-60% of Indians show these symptoms, it was as high as 80% among the Armymen. Pre-hypertension is a risk factor for heart disease and is characterized by mildly high blood pressure - 120-139mm Hg systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure of 80-89.

Almost 67% were found to have low HDL cholesterol level - a sign of low physical activity. More embarrassingly, 30% had a body-mass ratio of over 23, putting them in the overweight category.

Unfit Army? Survey finds 30% overweight - The Times of India

 

[Roybot]

Since when BMI over 23 is overweight?

BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5&#8211;24.9
Overweight = 25&#8211;29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

 

[Kambojaric]

Since when BMI over 23 is overweight?

BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5&#8211;24.9
Overweight = 25&#8211;29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Apparently there are different ways of calculating the BMI. According to the Japanese + Singapoerian methods, 23+ is overweight. I guess their method was used here.

Body mass index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Abingdonboy]

Since when BMI over 23 is overweight?

BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5&#8211;24.9
Overweight = 25&#8211;29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Yes you're correct this does conflict with international standard but that is because the IA are much more stringent on physical fitness and their categories reflect this so to THEM is overweight. I also read in another article that has obviously been excluded in this article (bad news always prevails) that the FRONTLINE/INFANTRY men were found to be in great shape, as these men exercised rigourusly EVERYDAY but this survey has taken the ENTIRE 1.3 MILLION man army including cooks, administrators,mechanics, technicians etc who are not subjected to such physical demands hence some maybe overweight but the results are misleading at best.


+ also I find the BMI (as do many) extremely unhelpful to track overwieghtness or physical health as figures can be EXTREMLY misleading. Ie most of the English rugby squad, issuing this index, were found to be "morbidly obese" but of you look at them you will find it impossible to belive as they are incredibly built athletes- the reason, the BMI doesn't take into account muscle/fat ratio but works on a weight/height average so doesn't truly reflect a person's fitness. You'd expect many frontline/SOF soldiers to be incredibly fit with plenty of muscle but BMI may class them as "overweight".

 

[Rafi]

This should be worrying for indian's this level of fitness is going to take a toll in the long run.

 

[mautkimaut]

This should be worrying for indian's this level of fitness is going to take a toll in the long run.

Well atleast now people should say that India is bhookha country

 

[Rafi]

Well atleast now people should say that India is bhookha country

soldiers are fed in the messes, are they not? What india should do is give incentives for soldiers to get fitter.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Since when BMI over 23 is overweight?

BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5&#8211;24.9
Overweight = 25&#8211;29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

For the South asian body type . 23 is over weight. We have a higher chance of developing diabetes and heart problems.

 

[harpoon]

soldiers are fed in the messes, are they not? What india should do is give incentives for soldiers to get fitter.

Have you seen the North Korean soldiers. They are shorter than the South Korean one as the malnutrition which is rampant in the country also affected the soldiers. So only a well fed country can produce well developed soldiers.

My city has an Army & Airforce cantonment but I am yet to come across the so called obese soldiers. May be they are hiding inside the camps, but the physical level of local policemen is altogether a different matter.

 

[RazPaK]

Have you seen the North Korean soldiers. They are shorter than the South Korean one as the malnutrition which is rampant in the country also affected the soldiers. So only a well fed country can produce well developed soldiers.

My city has an Army & Airforce cantonment but I am yet to come across the so called obese soldiers. May be they are hiding inside the camps, but the physical level of local policemen is altogether a different matter.

LOL about the policemen. It's so true, in Pakistan as well.

 

[cyphercide]

Have you seen the North Korean soldiers. They are shorter than the South Korean one as the malnutrition which is rampant in the country also affected the soldiers. So only a well fed country can produce well developed soldiers.

My city has an Army & Airforce cantonment but I am yet to come across the so called obese soldiers. May be they are hiding inside the camps, but the physical level of local policemen is altogether a different matter.

The ones you've seen are essentially grunts(Jawan/Sailor/Airman) on the ground and their fitness regimes will bring a tear to your eye(literally,I used to get depressed watching their fitness modules.It's like their instructors want them to die).

However,once they finish their tenures(5-7 years)and get subsequent promotions as officers,not many stay on as combat personnel or instructors but rather opt for stationary positions(not involving many transfers) in logistics,management,support facilities etc. where the mandatory regimes become fewer and not so mandatory if you pull up enough stars on your shoulders.

 

[LiberalAtheist]

LOL about the policemen. It's so true, in Pakistan as well.

yes the good old Punjab police is ready to action and protect and serve just look at there amazing fitness!

mainly Punjabis we eat so much food with ghee in it but then again a nice bowl of boiled lentils with spices vegetables and no ghee is very healthy however with ghee it is very very bad

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

yes the good old Punjab police is ready to action and protect and serve just look at there amazing fitness!

mainly Punjabis we eat so much food with ghee in it but then again a nice bowl of boiled lentils with spices vegetables and no ghee is very healthy however with ghee it is very very bad

policemen all over india are like this .

 

[cyphercide]

policemen all over india are like this .

Lol.but kabhi unka maar khaya hai?They might be overweight par akkal thikhane laga denge

 

[fd24]

Come on guys dont make out that there are policman all over looking like this. They look quite senior. Im sure in their youth they werent like this. They are probably not on the front line.