Overweight officers and soldiers in the Indian army have been warned that they may lose their eligibility for promotions and transfers if they don’t slim down. The privileges that could be taken away from them could also include the right to attend ceremonial functions.

According to a news report, the army has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward obesity in its rank and file. This happened after a sample survey of 767 soldiers last year found a third of them overweight. The findings put a question mark on the combat-readiness of the world’s third largest army with 1.3 million personnel, the report said.

As part of this plan, all personnel must undergo an annual “obesity evaluation examination” effective from next month. The annual confidential reports (ACRs) of officers will henceforth carry a full-size picture, instead of the previous norm of a passport-size photo, so that any bulge around the waist is visible.

Waist size determines promotions
According to the report, waist size will determine promotions as certificate from the officer, who writes the ACR of the personnel to be promoted, will be sent to departments concerned. Promotion will be held back for anybody 10 percent above the “ideal body weight”, until he shaped up.

If the promotion order comes before the certificate is issued, he will not be allowed to wear the next rank till the commanding officer certifies that he has reached the ideal weight. The idea came from then army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, a fitness enthusiast who ran 10km each day. Suhag was apparently appalled at the increasing girth of the men under his command.

As things stand, no overweight personnel can go abroad on assignments unless he is specially exempted or is a war wounded. Besides, plump officers will not be granted reemployment either and applications will have to be accompanied by a fitness certificate, mentioning the ideal body weight.

source: Alarabiya