An Open Letter to the Department of War: Safe and Effective Strategies to Counter Military Obesity
Today, the American Security Project (ASP), the Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN), and over 70 signatories sent an open letter to the Department of War. The letter shares a set of evidence-based policy recommendations for safe, effective strategies to counter military obesity and strengthen force readiness and resilience. The full text of the letter is below.
February 2, 2026
The Honorable Pete Hegseth
United States Secretary of War
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Hegseth,
The members of the United States Armed Forces are the collective cornerstone of American freedom and prosperity, and their health and fitness are paramount to our national defense. We applaud your commitment to improving the strength of our warfighters as they protect the American people and homeland.
As you have emphasized, rising rates of overweight and obesity among U.S. military personnel pose an urgent threat to readiness, manpower, and the overall health of the force. In April 2024, the American Security Project (ASP) and over fifty signatories sent a call-to-action letter to Secretary Lloyd James Austin III requesting increased access to vital obesity care for military personnel and a review of the process for identifying and treating obesity. The Department’s response affirmed our concerns and stated that a review of our recommendations was underway.
We appreciate that you have helped elevate public attention to this issue, including through your X post sharing ASP’s report on reserve component obesity last May. In addition to your ongoing efforts, urgent action is necessary to ensure that our service members receive the medical care they need to remain a strong fighting force and continue to thrive after the completion of their service.
To this end, ASP, the Obesity Care Advocacy Network, and the following signatories are advocating for:
- Obesity prevention: Increased exercise opportunities and enhanced access to healthy foods and beverages per the CDC’s federal facility food service guidelines, starting with periodic, service-wide reviews of on-base nutrition environments and nutrition program assessments to inform a wider food transformation strategy.
- Early intervention: Referral of service members exceeding weight standards to a medical professional for comprehensive health review and discussion of treatment options.
- Evidence-based obesity treatment: Improved access to obesity treatments that have been proven safe and effective, including nutrition counseling, behavioral and lifestyle interventions, FDA-approved obesity medications, and other appropriate medical interventions, as well as implementation of clear policy guidelines for pharmacological treatment to facilitate access.
- Expanded research: Additional funding for research assessing the impacts of obesity on military readiness and the potential cost-saving implications of various prevention and treatment mechanisms.
- Increased education on unsafe practices: Increased awareness of the health risks and long-term inefficacy of disordered eating and unregulated weight loss substances.
- Assured treatment coverage: Reversal of recent cuts to TRICARE coverage of obesity medications, including GLP-1s, for TRICARE for Life beneficiaries and other specialty groups, as well as reopening of provider networks for beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select.
Given the diverse and evolving security threats facing the United States, it is absolutely essential that we provide our forces with the resources they need to maintain their health and readiness. The Department of War must take action ensuring every warfighter is equipped to take on the personal battle against obesity so that they are prepared to tackle the nation’s greatest challenges.
Respectfully,
The American Security Project & Obesity Care Advocacy Network
Alongside the following organizations:
A. Philip Randolph Institute
Advocates for Better Children’s Diets
Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention
Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners
American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
American Diabetes Association
American Diabetes Association/Obesity Association
American Gastroenterological Association
American Medical Women’s Association
American Podiatric Medical Association
American Psychological Association Services
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society for Nutrition
Association of State Public Health Nutritionists
Better Living Fitness
Caregiver Action Network
Chronic Care Policy Alliance
Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses
Colorado Obesity Society
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
Common Threads
Community Liver Alliance
Diabetes Leadership Council
Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition
Fatty Liver Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Florida Obesity Society
Gerontological Society of America
Get Healthy Utah
Global Liver Institute
Healthy Savannah
HealthyWomen
League of United Latin American Citizens
Looms For Lupus
Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
Lupus Foundation of America
MANA, A National Latina Organization
Missouri Psychological Association
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Black Nurses Association, Inc.
National Consumers League
National Hispanic Health Foundation
Nevada Chronic Care Collaborative
Obesity Action Coalition
Obesity Medicine Association
Ohio Kentucky Chapter of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
PAN Foundation
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Raymond A. Wood Foundation
San Antonio Obesity Society
STOP Obesity Alliance
The Mended Hearts, Inc.
The Obesity Society
Vietnam Veterans of America
Weigh to Wellness Denver
Western Colorado Weight Care, LLC
Wisconsin Obesity Society
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
And the following individual signatories:
Brigadier General Steven M. Anderson
United States Army, Retired
Former Deputy Chief of Staff,
Logistics for the Multi-National Force in Iraq
Member, ASP Consensus for American Security
Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett
United States Navy, Retired
Former Deputy Commander,
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
Member, ASP Consensus for American Security
Brigadier General Stephen Cheney
United States Marine Corps, Retired
Former Inspector General, U.S. Marine Corps
President Emeritus, American Security Project
Dr. Richele Corrado
United States Navy, Retired
Medical Director and Obesity Medicine Physician, Revolution Medicine, Health & Fitness
Senior Adjunct Fellow, American Security Project
Robert B. Crowe
Partner, RB CROWE LLC
Member, American Security Project Board of Directors
Major General Richard T. Devereaux
United States Air Force, Retired
Former Director of Operational Planning, Policy, and Strategy, U.S. Air Force Headquarters
Member, ASP Consensus for American Security
Major General William Enyart
United States Army, Retired
37th Adjutant General of the State of Illinois
Member, ASP Consensus for American Security
Brigadier General Robert Felderman
United States Army, Retired
Former Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans, NORAD and USNORTHCOM
Member, ASP Consensus for American Security
Rear Admiral Len Hering, Sr.
United States Navy, Retired
Former Commander, Navy Region Southwest
Member, ASP Consensus for American Security
General Lori Robinson
United States Air Force, Retired
Former Commander, NORAD and USNORTHCOM Member, American Security Project Board of Directors
Lieutenant General Norman Seip
United States Air Force, Retired
Former Commander, 12th Air Force
President, American Security Project
Brigadier General Allyson Solomon
United States Air Force, Retired
Former Assistant Adjutant General – Air,
Maryland National Guard
Member, American Security Project Board of Directors
Governor Christine Whitman
50th Governor, State of New Jersey
Former Administrator,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Member, ASP Consensus for American Security
An Open Letter to the Department of War: Safe and Effective Strategies to Counter Military Obesity by The American Security Project
