Army has brought out heavy artillery to fight the growing problem of obesity within its ranks. A new set of instructions said overweight personnel were a “public embarrassment due to slovenly appearance in uniform”.
Stung with observations from the top echelons of the government on the expanding waistlines of some officers, the Army HQ has prescribed stringent steps to check a “trend on the increase”. “The issue has serious ramifications, not only affecting combat readiness but also leading to avoidable ailments resulting in reduced life span in addition to public embarrassment due to slovenly appearance in uniform,” the instruction, sent to all commands on August 8 read.
The instructions for ‘enforcement measures to help check the menace of obesity’ have been sent for comments to all Army Commands. Officers and soldiers will be subjected to an annual obesity evaluation examination in case they ‘appear to be overweight’ and a set of photographs would be attached to their evaluation files.
Among the methods prescribed are a bar on overweight personnel to be considered for foreign postings, career courses or even tenures at ‘A Class’ cities. Overweight personnel will not be allowed for reemployment and would lose out on career advancement. Sources told ET that the crackdown is a personal initiative of Army chief Dalbir Singh, who is known for his exceptional fitness who still finds time to run 10 km daily.
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Comments were also made on expanding waistlines by top echelons of the government at an event in the Capital earlier this year.
