The People’s Liberation Army blames overeating and masturbation for the poor fitness levels seen among potential recruits

An increasing number of Chinese men and women who try to join the biggest military in the world are failing fitness tests because they are fat and masturbate too much, state media proclaimed yesterday.

The high attrition rates for potential army recruits has prompted concerns that there may soon be too few fit youths to fill the ranks.

Chinese authorities believe that poor diet is a big part of the problem but also that frequent masturbation by young men leads to larger-than-normal testicular veins, and a resultant fall in fitness.

The excessive use of smartphones, and drinking water with too high a mineral content are other factors, according to a report published in the People’s Liberation Army Daily, the state-run military newspaper.

Citing official