Why junk food is being served in the school premises of the US knowing that obesity rates are touching skies, ask retired military leaders. With the aim of curbing the menace of childhood obesity, the retired military leaders have taken up the responsibility of throwing out the junk food from the schools.

The retired military leaders issued a report saying that about 40% of the students are consuming high-calorie food. They emphasized that every year, the junk food being served in the schools add to millions of calories.

About 26 million children in the US are said to be obese. Obesity is a serious health issue as it has the potential of triggering life threatening diseases like cancer, heart attack and diabetes. It is necessary to make children aware of it.

Poor lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits are some of the main causes that are contributing growingly in the childhood obesity cases. Retired Air Force lieutenant general Norman Seip said, "We look at childhood obesity not only as a health crisis but a national security issue. When 25% of young people can't join the military simply because they are overweight, that's an issue that needs to be dealt with".