Last month, military recruiters said they were having to turn away too many potential recruits because they were obese. Now, USA Today reporters that police departments around the country are having the same problem. It's not just that they're overweight: Young men and women are failing many basic markers of physical ability, the story says.
Some departments are lowering physical standards, and some are working with local high schools to help students get healthier, according to the article. The prevalence of junk food and the decline of physical activities at school may all play a role. I wouldn't advocate for more young men and women to risk their lives by going to war. And I would be happier with the decriminalization of many small-time offenses, including drug-related ones, that would mean fewer young American men went to prison but could also mean police forces would hire less. But the truth is joining the military or the local police force represents the best opportunity for jobs for many young Americans. I would be happier if those young men and women had the quality free public education and access to higher education that would open up better or comparable opportunities elsewhere, but I've also seen how stable jobs in those sectors can provide a path to the middle-class for many families.
Instead, our food and school systems are now helping to deny many kids access to those careers by maintaining an environment in which it's hard to get exercise and eat right. If the students graduating today are not only overweight but are also generally out of shape, they're shut out of the types of physically intensive jobs that might be their best choice if they don't have access to other types of careers.
-- Monica Potts
