Obesity is the leading reason young Americans are rejected for military service, and that's a threat to national security, according to a new report by retired generals and admirals. They call for legislation to make school lunches healthier and banning junk foods and high-calorie drinks from campuses.

The study, "Too Fat to Fight," found that more than 9 million Americans ages 17 to 24 — more than 25% of the age group — are too overweight for the armed forces. The study cited research showing that students get up to 40% of their daily calorie intake at school and that 80% who were overweight when they were 10 to 15 years old were obese by 25.

"We believe that the child obesity issue is so serious it has become a threat to our national security," said retired Lt. Gen. Norman Seip of the research by Mission: Readiness, a non-profit group of more than 130 retired admirals, generals and other senior military leaders.

Watch the video from the press conference or read the news release, which summarizes the goals for improving child nutrition.

Overall, the report notes, 75% of young Americans aren't military material because they have failed to graduate high school, have criminal records or are physically or mentally unfit.

The Associated Press has more.

(Posted by Michael Winter)