SAN DIEGO — The soldiers often call Dr. Adam Tattelbaum, a plastic surgeon, in a panic. They need liposuction, and fast.
A number of military personnel are turning to the surgical procedure to remove excess fat from around the waist so they can pass the Pentagon’s body fat test.
“They come in panicked about being kicked out or getting a demerit that will hurt their chances at a promotion,” said the Rockville, Md., surgeon.
Some service members say they have no other choice because the Defense Department’s method of estimating body fat is weeding out not just flabby physiques but bulkier, muscular builds.
Fitness experts and doctors agree and are calling for the military’s fitness standards to be revamped.
Defense officials say only a small fraction of those who exceed body fat limits perform well on physical fitness tests.
The checks are designed to ensure troops are ready for the rigors of combat.
