Recently, a photo spread rapidly on U.S. social media, sparking Twitter enthusiasm and ridicule. This photo shows several U.S. National Guard soldiers with fat body sizes, coinciding with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hectoris previously publicly criticized the problem of obesity inside the U.S. Army, the photo also scratched his face.

Photographs that cause excitement.

On the 13th local time, Hegseth announced on social media that the overweight soldiers photographed in the photos had been replaced, and said that "high standards have returned". However, the weight crisis of the US military is a big problem that is difficult to solve. According to current data from the Pentagon, the obesity rate of the U.S. military exceeds 20%. However, according to estimates by U.S. military professional websites, nearly 70% of U.S. military personnel have a body mass index in the range of overweight or obesity, and about 78% of U.S. veterans are plagued by obesity.

Hegel says overweight soldiers in the photo have been withdrawn

Pictures are red.

Sparking heated discussions on social media

On October 7, local time, Associated Press photographer Erin Holly took a photo in Elwood, Illinois, showing more than 20 Texas National Guard soldiers arriving in the suburbs of Chicago, preparing for border security missions.

After the photo was released, it spread rapidly on social platforms, with more than 30 million views. Some netizens commented that ¡°they look more like looking for a fast-food restaurant rather than performing a task¡±. Another popular post joked: ¡°The defense minister just said about the problem of fat, this photo came to face.¡± This photo was spread by American netizens in the form of expressions and inscriptions, further amplifying the irony of the incident.

The photo isly not intentionally aimed at military fitness issues, but as a regular news image, but has still sparked media and public discussion about U.S. military obesity rates. Some veterans say this reflects the loosening of U.S. military fitness standards under pressure to recruit, while critics worry that this will affect the overall image and combat capabilities of the military. According to previous reports, U.S. teenagers face great difficulties in military recruitment work, and about one-third of the candidates will be eliminated due to weight problems.

within the European Union.

The U.S. wants the most relaxation.

As early as September 30th, Hegerseth delivered a speech to all senior U.S. military officers at the Pettyco base in Virginia. He said straight: "I'm tired of seeing physically obese soldiers, which makes me feel tired and not in line with the image of the army." Hegerseth stressed that the U.S. military needs to implement stricter physical fitness standards, including testing twice a year and gender neutral assessment to improve combat preparedness. This statement was rapidly amplified by the media and linked to photo events, forming a public opinion hotspot.

According to Pentagon data, the obesity rate (BMI¡Ý30) among active-duty military personnel in the U.S. military has exceeded 20%, which is higher than the national average. About one-third of the candidates for young people aged 17-24 are unable to join the army due to unqualified weight. Hagerseth's speech was aimed at promoting reform. Starting in 2025, the U.S. Army will allow the use of diet drugs and introduce new body fat estimation methods, but standards will still be further tightened.

In 2023, relevant reports mentioned the obesity problem in the US military

Faced with pressure from public opinion, the U.S. National Guard issued a statement on the 9th, clarifying that the soldiers in the photos were temporarily mobilized and did not represent the overall military's physical level. The statement reiterated that all active personnel must meet height, weight and physical fitness standards, and those who fail will be withdrawn or replaced. On October 13, Hagerseth forwarded relevant reports on platform X and said that some unqualified soldiers had been replaced from the initial 200. Hagerseth also said that "high standards are finally back." Illinois Governor Pritzker and others criticized Hagerseth, saying his remarks ignored the reality of recruitment difficulties. Some analysts believe that the obesity problem in the US military stems from the overall trend of society and is expected to deteriorate further by 2030. Although the Pentagon is promoting reforms, it needs to balance the contradiction between adhering to high standards and manpower needs.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, obesity in the U.S. military causes approximately $1.35 billion in annual medical costs and productivity losses, including a 33% increase in the risk of musculoskeletal injury. The U.S. Army's 2025 version of the ACFT test requires men aged 18-24 to complete a 2-mile run in 21 minutes and 30 push-ups.

In contrast, the British army's 1.5-mile run time limit is 10 minutes and 30 seconds, and it needs to do 40 push-ups, while the German army requires a 3-kilometer run to be completed in 14 minutes, and it needs to do 30 push-ups. Public opinion believes that only in Europe and America, the physical requirements of the US military are the most relaxed.

Zheng Zhi, Red Star reporter