Operation Weight Loss Is a Success

It is 7:20 p.m. Sergeant Lee Jun-ha (age: 23) of a mechanized battalion takes a short break after dinner, laces up his sneakers, and starts a jog around the base like he has done for the past few months. A 2.5 km jog does not rob him of breath because he has been following this routine since March 10. After another putting in another lap, he does some sit ups and lifts weights in the fitness center, assisted by his “super fit” subordinate. Before entering the military, he used to weigh 100 kg (he is 174 cm tall). He is now relatively thin at 85 kg. The instant noodles he used to treat himself to after finishing his guard duty, chocolate pie, and coke are history now. Lee is still striving to lower his weight to 80 kg, before his service expires three months from now. Lee says, “I no longer struggle during training, because I lost so much weight. Most of all, I feel more confident.” Lee was once what everyone would call fat, but all this changed when he started taking part in the six-month weight loss program offered by the 37th Infantry Division (Maj. Gen. Kim Il-saeng) in Jeungpyeong-gun, North Chungcheong Province. Such diet programs have been offered at some recruit training centers, but there have never been a regular program being offered on a divisional scale. The division had received survey results earlier this year, showing that six percent of its soldiers (243 soldiers) are not fit for normal training exercises because of obesity. Kim judged that soldiers who cannot take part in training will lead to lower battle ability and problems in teamwork, and ordered that provisions be taken. Major Bae Yong-sung (37), the leader of the medical battalion, in cooperation with the nearby Jeungpyeong Public Health Center, came up with a detailed program involving exercise and diet methods and sought participants. He also offered carrots as well: a four-day prize leave of absence upon ten percent weight loss, and a five-day prize leave of absence upon an additional seven percent weight loss followed by a five percent weight loss. There were 169 participants. After having their body fat measured and filling in a fitness card, they were on their way. The soldiers skipped ropes, jogged, stretched, and ran up and down the stairs. They chose a routine according to their fitness level, and gradually increased their workload. Their diet program consisted of reducing their food intake by a third, and refusing soup and instant foods – a tall order for soldiers their age. Experts from the Jeungpyeong Public Health Center measure the soldiers’ body fat to notify them of their progress, give them health advice, and even run a clinic. After five months, the soldiers lost two to 26 kg. The average weight lost was 7.0 kg. Yang Seung-hun (23), who was discharged from military service on May 25, lost 26.4 kg. Yang, who is preparing to return to school says, “Even my family and friends had trouble noticing me.” The achievements of the 37th Infantry Division have been reported to Army Headquarters. The Army Headquarters is considering expanding such programs. Colonel Cho Goo-jeung (age: 44), the chief of the mechanized battalion, said, “It is one thing to see the soldiers get ripped, but I really was happy that they gained confidence. Aside from all that, we also gained the nation’s confidence in these soldiers, and we increased our fighting ability.