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BATTLE OF BULGE

Huge 28st serviceman among dozens of sailors, army and navy personnel booted out for being too fat

Exclusive figures show that more than 70 military personnel have been axed for being obese

A SERVICEMAN was booted out of the military for being too fat to fight - after tipping the scales at 28 stone.

Other soldiers, sailors and airmen discharged for being obese last year include another who weighed 24 stone and one of 19 stone.

 A total of 72 military personnel have been discharged between January 2007 and March 2016 for being obese
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A total of 72 military personnel have been discharged between January 2007 and March 2016 for being obeseCredit: Alamy
 The unnamed soldier who hit 28 stone was one of at least four ejected from the military last year due to their weight
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The unnamed soldier who hit 28 stone was one of at least four ejected from the military last year due to their weightCredit: Alamy
And shocking statistics unearthed by The Sun on Sunday show a total of 72 military personnel have been discharged between January 2007 and March 2016 for being obese.
They also include servicemen who weighed 23 stone, 22.5 stone and 19 stone.
The unnamed soldier who hit 28 stone was one of at least four ejected from the military last year due to their weight - and the heaviest recorded serviceman to date.
Campaigners last night warned the figures show the military could be losing the Battle of the Bulge - with enemies including booze, fried food and too much time in front of TVs and computers.
 It is feared problems which contributed to the weight loss included booze, fried food and too much time in front of TVs and computers
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It is feared problems which contributed to the weight loss included booze, fried food and too much time in front of TVs and computersCredit: Alamy
Our findings - admitted by The MoD after a Freedom of Information request - also show that hundreds of military personnel are classified as obese due to their BMIs.
The number of soldiers failing fitness tests is also increasing and record numbers of would-be recruits are being rejected because they are too fat or unfit.

Fitness Levels

Thousands of servicemen also failing physical training

The number of soldiers failing fitness tests is also increasing and record numbers of would-be recruits are being rejected because they are too fat or unfit.
The number of soldiers who failed their regular fitness assessment has soared almost 10 percent in the last year.
There are currently 5,540 soldiers with a mark next to their name for not completing the 1.5mile run followed by a set number of press-ups and sit-ups in the required time.
That number has grown from 5,110 fitness failures just six months earlier.
This year recruitment has suffered because of the fitness of would-be soldiers.
The army turned away 335 people this year because of concerns over their weight or general fitness.
A year before the numbers rejected because of these reasons was only 130.
Data from medical files also reveals that more than 9,000 military personnel are classified as being officially obese with a Body Mass Index in excess of 30.
This is made up of 5,146 service personnel from the army, 2,376 from the Royal Navy and another 1,569 from the RAF.

The number of soldiers who failed their regular fitness assessment has soared almost 10 percent in the last year.
One officer said: “If you walk around any barracks you’ll see plenty of overweight soldiers.

UK’s 3.3m LARDY KIDS

THE number of fat children in Britain could soar from two million now to 3.3?million by 2025.

Worldwide the total may reach 268?million, or a sixth of all youngsters.

A report for World Obesity Day on Tuesday warned 91?million five to 17-year-olds will be obese unless action is taken.

Up to 12?million will have impaired glucose tolerance, four million will have type 2 diabetes and 27?million will have high blood pressure.

Co-author Dr Tim Lobstein said: “The forecasts should sound an alarm bell for health services.”


If you are the 28 stone squaddie or you know who he is, please call The Sun news desk on 0207 782 4101 or email [email protected] or text 07423 720250


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