'Army fighting fit, not out of shape'

[ROUDRAM]

NEW DELHI: None of the participants in a survey that seemed to indicate a worrying lack of fitness in military personnel were from the Army, says a statement issued by Army Headquarters. The statement was issued in response to a TOI report, 'Unfit Army? Survey finds 30% overweight' published on September 5.

"It may be noted that adequate focus is laid on the upkeep of physical fitness standards in the Army. Physical fitness schedules are existing and are strictly practised by all ranks in letter and spirit," said the statement.

Sources within the defence ministry clarified that while the survey, conducted by the ministry and the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, may have covered defence personnel, it did not include any soldiers from the Army itself. The survey report, titled 'Prevalence of hypertension in young military adults and its association with overweight and dyslipidaemia' was published in the latest issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Research. Its lead author, Dr Sougat Ray, did not respond to repeated e-mails sent by TOI seeking details of the 767 participants - 130 officers and 637 from other ranks.

[Maximus]

[img]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_cda1OvVtS20/THBIpw5imzI/AAAAAAAABeg/dL9urMNxNuI/Subbu-Stun.gif[/img]