Teens Rejected for Military Because of Weight

Many people can identify with what I'm about to say. It is in no way meant to make fun of anyone, but: What happened to THE fat kid?

This morning, I was reading a story by the AP which states that former military leaders are saying obesity is the leading reason young people in Alabama aren't accepted into the military. Let that sink in for a minute. Most people that look to do into the military do so right after high school or within a few years after graduation. At this age, most adolescents and young adults have built immunities against childhood illnesses and are generally at their healthiest points in their lives. Yet, they're too overweight for the military?

When I was growing up, there was THE fat kid.... Only one.  Maybe two.  Most children were slim, fit, and maybe even underweight.  There may have been one or two overweight kids in one class.  Now, according to The State of Obesity, Alabama ranks No. 3 in the country in terms of obese high school students.

Here is the question:  Are more of our children fat?  If so, why?  Are they eating too much for their levels of activity? Not drinking enough water? Or is the manner of determining obesity faulty?  I remember when I enrolled at Stillman College.  I was pretty fit. However, according to the BMI, I was overweight at 150 lbs. I was thicker than many girls, but I didn't have excess fat.  I just had a more muscular build.

With that being said, should there be different guidelines to determine a healthy weight, considering muscle mass more so than skeletal structure, or should the height to weight ratio be the only method for determining obesity?