RealClearInvestigations recently dubbed the finding as the ‘waste of the day,’ and members of the military community are voicing strong criticism. According to many, the use of hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on weight loss medications like Ozempic to tackle obesity in the U.S. Armed Forces is a misguided approach and an unnecessary burden to the taxpayer.
American Family News spoke to Dr. Chase Spears, a retired U.S. Army combat veteran, public affairs officer, writer, and host of the Finding Your Spine podcast.
In his opinion, “The military is throwing money at a problem that's a cultural problem, [contending] military obesity is well known.” Supporting this view, a report by the American Security Project in 2025 indicated that approximately 68% of the military’s Reserve and National Guard forces are classified as overweight.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth condemned the situation, stating that standards have been ignored and promising a shift towards real fitness standards.
This call for change resonated with many, including Spears, who reflected on his own experiences. Despite never having difficulty meeting military standards, he viewed himself as somewhat overweight. He mentioned that it was only after he left active duty and transitioned to civilian life that he learned how to eat properly.
“I’m in the best shape of my life now, and I didn’t need Ozempic to do it,” Spears admits. “I just needed to get away from a culture that drives obesity, keeps cortisol high, keeps you eating garbage, keeps you sitting all day long, keeps you unpredictable, and that prevents you from being able to have consistent rest cycles.”
For the military to get a handle on these issues, it would require “a cultural change,” argues Spears. “However, when it comes to fostering genuine cultural change to improve the Force's emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health, they just create programs and throw money at them.
“They say, ‘Look, we made a program. Everything should be better now,’ then move on to the next thing and pretend that toxic command climates aren't a contributing factor and pretend that creating work just to create work isn't a factor,” he notes.
Military obesity soars in early 2020s
For The Gateway Pundit, Retired Navy Lt. Ted Macie highlighted a 190% increase in obesity rates among service members between 2020 and 2023, and also criticized the reliance on medications as a temporary fix that fails to address underlying issues. He expressed frustration over such decisions that undermine fitness.
Similarly, retired Army Sergeant First Class Josh Snodgrass raised concerns about the long-term health effects of such broad pharmaceutical interventions. He questioned the military’s commitment to laying “a strong foundation to shape mentality, discipline, accountability, and standards — not reward mediocrity or lower the bar” during basic training.
An anonymous active-duty Army Green Beret described the spending as outrageous and counter to military standards, fearing potential misuse of the medications without clear criteria for their distribution.
The prevailing sentiment is clear. Among military personnel, Ozempic does not prioritize true fitness and personal responsibility for one’s health within the ranks. Instead, it raises concerns about how the focus on quick solutions may overshadow the importance of a comprehensive approach to wellness and physical readiness in the Armed Forces.
