San Diego Reader

A group of retired military admirals and generals, including Navy Admiral Leon A. “Bud” Edney of Coronado and Major General James W. Comstock of San Diego, will present a teleconference tomorrow on what they see as the latest threat to national security: childhood obesity.

Drawing from a study by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy on obesity rates across the state’s counties, the former military brass representing national security nonprofit group Mission: Readiness will present “Unfit to Fight: A Report on California.” This report, prepared by the group, “shows how obesity rates and lack of physical fitness among children and young adults in California pose a threat to national security.”

The group aims to stress a need for increased physical activity and improved nutrition in the state’s public schools, in order to produce fitter, more combat-ready high school graduates ready for military service. Nationwide, weight issues are the leading cause among medical reasons young adults are unable to enlist.

(stock photo)