More troop losses to obeisty than to bullets during this war

Strategy Page:

Food and drugs are a major cause of losses in the American armed forces. More troops are lost to these two causes each year, than to combat. The war on terror took on a different meaning for many troops after 2002, as the U.S. military cracked down on overweight personnel. In 2003, over 3,000 troops were "involuntarily separated" for not getting their weight down to acceptable levels. A smaller number gets tossed for failing regular drug tests. The new war on fat was hardest on new recruits, and the 90 percent of personnel who are not actually holding combat jobs. Most of those in uniform do what are basically civilian jobs, but in a military setting. That often means doing it overseas, where you are basically confined to base, with no access to alcohol or contact with the locals. Smoking is discouraged, but there is plenty of food available. In addition to regular drug tests, each year, every soldiers gets weighed. If they are over the limit for their age, height and gender, they get watched, and warned, until they either lose enough weight, or get thrown out of the armed forces. Worse, even more, otherwise excellent recruits, are not allowed to enlist because they are overweight. Recruiters help these recruits try to lose weight, and many succeed and are allowed to enlist. But many more fail in their weight loss methods.

...

Apparently women recruits have more of a struggle meeting their weight targets. There are apparently programs to help those with weight problems. No word on whether Jenny Craig is a subcontractor.