Obesity is a National Security Issue: Lieutenant General Mark Hertling at TEDxMidAtlantic 2012

TEDx Talks
6 Dec 201216:08
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn this compelling speech, General Hertling highlights the alarming rise in obesity among American youth as a significant national security threat. Drawing from his 38-year military career, he shares personal experiences and data showing the impact of poor nutrition and lack of physical education on military recruitment and readiness. He emphasizes the economic burden of obesity-related health costs and calls for collective action to reverse this trend, urging individuals to be role models for healthier lifestyles.

Takeaways
  • 🕵️‍♂️ A soldier with 38 years of experience highlights an emerging threat related to inactivity and obesity.
  • 🎓 The soldier's graduate studies in Exercise Physiology revealed the severe health consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.
  • 🚫 A staggering 75% of 17-24 year olds were found unfit for military service primarily due to obesity.
  • 🏃‍♂️ Lack of physical education in schools and poor nutrition are leading to physical unfitness among young recruits.
  • 🍔 The 'O' food group (foods ending in 'O') symbolizes the unhealthy dietary trends contributing to the obesity crisis.
  • 🤕 Increased stress fractures in recruits were linked to absence of PE and poor diet throughout their upbringing.
  • 💰 Economic implications include massive costs for treating obesity-related health issues and injuries.
  • 📉 The Soldier Athlete Initiative was created to address physical fitness and nutrition within the military.
  • 🥗 Changes in military dining facilities to 'Fueling the Soldier' led to significant reductions in injuries and healthcare costs.
  • 📈 Alarming predictions for 2030 indicate a potential increase in childhood obesity to over 65% in some states.
  • 🌟 Collective action is needed beyond the military to address the national security threat posed by obesity and inactivity.
Q & A

  • What is the main emerging threat discussed by Hertling in the transcript?

    -The main emerging threat discussed by Hertling is the obesity epidemic and its potential impact on national security, the economy, youth, and the economic system within the next 20 to 30 years.

  • How did Hertling's experience with the cadaver named Charlie influence his perspective on health and fitness?

    -Hertling's experience with Charlie, who was overweight and had a history of smoking and cardiovascular disease, made him realize the severe consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle. It highlighted the importance of physical fitness and proper nutrition, and how their lack can lead to significant health issues.

  • What percentage of 17-24 year olds who wanted to join the Army were not qualified due to obesity?

    -75% of the 17-24 year olds who wanted to join the Army were not qualified due to obesity.

  • What was the primary reason for the unfitness of the recruits Hertling observed?

    -The primary reason for the unfitness of the recruits was the lack of physical education in schools, starting in the late '90s, and poor nutrition due to the supersizing of food portions.

  • What initiative did Hertling start to address the health and fitness issues of new recruits?

    -Hertling started the Soldier Athlete Initiative, which aimed to change the way the Army trained and fed its recruits to improve their health and fitness levels.

  • What were the economic implications of the femoral neck stress injuries observed in new recruits?

    -The femoral neck stress injuries resulted in significant costs, ranging from USD 100,000 to USD 300,000 per injury, to fix, making it an economic issue for the Army.

  • How did changes in American diet in the last 15 years contribute to the obesity epidemic?

    -Americans began consuming about 30% more calories per day and about 15 lbs more sugar per year compared to 1983, largely due to the supersizing of food portions and increased consumption of unhealthy foods.

  • What technological changes have contributed to the decrease in physical activity among Americans?

    -The increase in television watching to about 150 hours per month and internet usage, including gaming, has led to more sedentary lifestyles and a decrease in physical activity.

  • What is Hertling's call to action for addressing the obesity epidemic?

    -Hertling calls for individuals to be fearless in advocating for change, such as writing to schools, promoting nutrition, balancing lifestyles, and modeling healthy behavior for young people.

  • What is the projected percentage of children who will be obese in certain states by 2030 according to the transcript?

    -The predictions for 2030 show that there will be states with greater than 65% of children who will be obese.

  • What is the estimated annual cost for treating the results of childhood obesity in the United States?

    -The Department of Health and Education estimates that USD 150 to USD 200 billion is spent per year on treating the results of childhood obesity.

Outlines
00:00
🕵️ Introduction and Personal Experience

The speaker, a 38-year military veteran named Hertling, introduces himself and shares his concerns about a growing national security threat related to physical inactivity and obesity. He discusses his educational background and experiences in the military, including his time at Indiana University where he studied Exercise Physiology and his observations of the negative health effects of poor lifestyle choices. Hertling emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue, predicting it to significantly impact the economy, youth, and national security within the next 20 to 30 years.

05:01
🏃‍♂️ Decline in Physical Education and Its Consequences

Hertling delves into the decline of physical education in schools and its repercussions on the physical fitness of young Americans. He reveals that only five states in the U.S. have mandatory PE requirements, leading to a majority of potential military recruits being physically unprepared. The speaker also discusses the changes in the American diet, highlighting the increase in calorie and sugar consumption over the past decades. He connects these factors to the rise in obesity and related health issues, such as femoral neck stress injuries among military recruits, emphasizing the economic burden these issues impose on the healthcare system.

10:02
🍽️ The Soldier Athlete Initiative and Changes in Military Training

To combat the observed decline in physical fitness, Hertling and the military implemented the Soldier Athlete Initiative. This program focuses on training like a champion to perform on the battlefield. The initiative involves assigning physical therapists and athletic trainers to prevent injuries and improving the nutritional content in mess halls to support soldiers' performance. The speaker shares the positive outcomes of these changes, such as reduced injuries, savings in healthcare costs, and a decrease in the number of overweight soldiers. He also mentions the expansion of these efforts to the Department of Defense Schools under the name 'Fueling the Future'.

15:03
📈 National Obesity Trends and Their Implications

Hertling presents a concerning picture of the national obesity trends, showing a significant increase in obesity rates among children and adolescents from 1985 to 2009, with predictions for 2030 indicating an even more alarming situation. He discusses the substantial financial burden of treating childhood obesity and the expected rise in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The speaker emphasizes the need for collective action, urging individuals to advocate for change in schools, promote healthy nutrition, and model positive behaviors for the younger generation to prevent future health crises and maintain national security.

🙏 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

In his closing remarks, Hertling reiterates his identity as a soldier and stresses that the issue of physical inactivity and obesity is not one that the military can solve alone. He calls for individual and collective action, urging people to be proactive in their communities, schools, and personal lives. Hertling's message is clear: by taking responsibility and leading by example, individuals can make a significant difference in addressing this national security concern and shaping a healthier future for the country.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Security Threats
The term 'Security Threats' refers to potential dangers that can compromise the safety and well-being of a nation or its citizens. In the context of the video, the speaker broadens the definition to include not only traditional military threats but also emerging societal issues, such as obesity and lack of physical activity, which can weaken a population and affect military readiness and national economy.
💡Exercise Physiology
Exercise Physiology is the scientific study of the physiological and biochemical processes that occur during physical activity. It involves understanding how the human body responds to exercise and the ways in which physical activity influences health and performance. In the video, the speaker's background in Exercise Physiology is highlighted to establish his credibility when discussing the importance of physical education and its decline in schools, which contributes to the obesity crisis.
💡Physical Education (PE)
Physical Education, or PE, refers to the teaching of physical activities and sports within schools. It is designed to promote physical fitness, health, and well-being among students. The speaker in the video emphasizes the decline in PE programs as a contributing factor to the obesity crisis and the unfitness of young recruits in the military, highlighting the importance of PE in preparing individuals for physically demanding tasks and maintaining national security.
💡Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition characterized by excessive body fat to the extent that it negatively affects a person's health. It is associated with various health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. In the video, obesity is presented as a growing problem among youth, which not only impacts their health but also poses a threat to national security due to the military's challenges in recruiting physically fit individuals.
💡National Security
National Security refers to the measures taken by a nation to protect its citizens, economy, and institutions against external and internal threats. The speaker argues that the traditional concept of national security must be expanded to include public health issues like obesity, as they can weaken the population and affect the nation's ability to defend itself and maintain economic stability.
💡Economic Impact
The term 'Economic Impact' refers to the influence that certain events or conditions have on the economy of a country or region. In the video, the economic impact of obesity is discussed in terms of the costs associated with treating obesity-related health issues and the loss of potential economic productivity due to health problems.
💡Lifestyle Choices
Lifestyle choices refer to the decisions individuals make regarding their daily habits and behaviors, such as diet, exercise, and leisure activities. The video emphasizes the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices to prevent obesity and its associated health risks, and the role of parents and society in setting a good example for children.
💡Military Recruitment
Military Recruitment involves the process of enlisting individuals into military service. The speaker discusses how the decline in physical fitness among youth, due to factors like the lack of PE and poor nutrition, has led to a significant number of potential recruits being ineligible for military service due to obesity, affecting the military's ability to maintain its force strength.
💡Healthcare Costs
Healthcare Costs refer to the expenses incurred in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of health issues. In the context of the video, the speaker highlights the rising healthcare costs associated with treating obesity and its related diseases, which places a significant financial burden on the nation.
💡Soldier Athlete Initiative
The Soldier Athlete Initiative is a program mentioned in the video that aims to improve the physical fitness and overall health of military personnel by adopting training methods and nutritional practices similar to those used by professional athletes. The initiative reflects the speaker's efforts to address the obesity crisis within the military by focusing on prevention and early intervention.
💡Public Health
Public Health is the branch of medicine and social science concerned with the health of populations, focusing on preventing disease and prolonging life. In the video, the speaker argues that obesity has become a public health crisis that requires collective action from individuals, communities, and organizations to address the root causes and promote healthier lifestyles.
Highlights

Soldier Hertling's 38-year military career and his concern for a new emerging threat related to inactivity and obesity.

Hertling's experience with a cadaver named Charlie, highlighting the severe health consequences of a lifestyle lacking physical activity and filled with poor dietary choices.

The alarming statistic that 75% of 17-24 year olds who wanted to join the Army were not qualified due to obesity.

Only five states in the U.S. have mandatory physical education requirements from kindergarten to 12th grade.

The significant increase in the consumption of calories and sugar by Americans over the past 15 years.

The economic impact of unhealthy recruits, with femoral neck stress injuries costing between USD 100,000 and USD 300,000 to treat.

The Soldier Athlete Initiative, a program designed to improve the physical fitness and nutrition of new recruits.

The introduction of physical therapists and athletic trainers to prevent and treat injuries in the military.

The 'Fueling the Soldier' program, aimed at changing the way food is provided in military dining facilities to support optimal performance.

The positive outcomes of the initiatives, including a reduction in injuries and treatment costs, and an improvement in the physical fitness of soldiers.

The concern that the issue of obesity and inactivity is not just a military problem but a national security concern affecting the majority of the U.S. population.

The predicted increase in obesity rates among children, with over 65% of children in certain states expected to be obese by 2030.

The staggering financial burden of treating the health consequences of childhood obesity, estimated at USD 150 to USD 200 billion per year.

The call to action for individuals to take responsibility and lead by example in combating obesity and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Transcripts

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NationalSecurityObesityCrisisMilitaryReadinessPublicHealthPhysicalEducationPoorNutritionLifestyleDiseasesHealthcareCostsYouthFitnessCommunityAction