U.S. Soldiers Need to Slim Down

The Pentagon says soldiers need to slim down. So to fight the obesity epidemic, the Department of Defense will publish a new policy later this year to encourage troops to adopt a healthier lifestyle. A plant-based diet should be part of that plan.

Time and again, plant-based diets have proven best for weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. The Military Times even acknowledges that people on a vegan diet “eat more fruits and vegetables than omnivores, and higher consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with lower blood cholesterol, lower incidence of stroke and a lower risk of mortality from heart disease.”

The Physicians Committee’s own clinical trials with the GEICO insurance company have also shown the benefits of offering a low-fat, plant-based diet in the workplace: improvements in body weight, cholesterol levels, and, in individuals with diabetes, blood sugar control.

But instead of promoting plant-based diets to help troops fight obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, some members of Congress are trying to ban Meatless Mondays. This could actually exacerbate obesity. A recent study found that people who ate large quantities of protein and a small amount of carbohydrates were almost twice as likely to gain more than 10 percent of their body weight.

Perhaps the U.S. military should instead seek guidance on incorporating a plant-based menu from the Israeli army. Last year NPR reported that “the Israel Defense Forces ‘is currently working on creating a complete meal plan for vegan soldiers who serve on closed bases’” and that “soldiers will get extra plant-based products for breakfast and lunch.”

My colleagues and I can also help. The Pentagon should enroll troops in the Physicians Committee’s Food for Life Employee Wellness Program, which is based on our GEICO study. But in the meantime, I encourage service members to start a healthier lifestyle today by downloading our Vegetarian Starter Kit or joining our 21-Day Vegan Kickstart.