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| Spanish army's elite La Legión regiment put on diet over obesity fears | Spanish army's elite La Legión regiment put on diet over obesity fears |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Spanish army has put soldiers in one of its most famous units on a diet amid fears some are becoming obese. | The Spanish army has put soldiers in one of its most famous units on a diet amid fears some are becoming obese. |
| Members of La Legión, an elite infantry regiment founded almost a century ago, are nicknamed the Bridegrooms of Death and known for their toughness, distinctive pastel uniforms and rapid marching pace. | Members of La Legión, an elite infantry regiment founded almost a century ago, are nicknamed the Bridegrooms of Death and known for their toughness, distinctive pastel uniforms and rapid marching pace. |
| However, concerns have emerged over the legionnaires’ waistlines and fitness levels, prompting the army to act. | However, concerns have emerged over the legionnaires’ waistlines and fitness levels, prompting the army to act. |
| “La Legión has ended up in a situation that requires a series of measures to reduce excess weight among its personnel,” according to an internal memo published this week by El País. | “La Legión has ended up in a situation that requires a series of measures to reduce excess weight among its personnel,” according to an internal memo published this week by El País. |
| The document noted that factors including a lack of fitness facilities and a higher average age among legionnaires were contributing to the problem. | The document noted that factors including a lack of fitness facilities and a higher average age among legionnaires were contributing to the problem. |
| More than 3,000 troops have undergone checks to determine their body mass index (BMI), of whom 180 (6%) were found to have a BMI of 30 or above, making them obese. They received medical examinations as well as nutritional advice and exercise plans to help them lose between 500g and 1kg a week. | More than 3,000 troops have undergone checks to determine their body mass index (BMI), of whom 180 (6%) were found to have a BMI of 30 or above, making them obese. They received medical examinations as well as nutritional advice and exercise plans to help them lose between 500g and 1kg a week. |
| Although La Legión admits that without the necessary action “we will be condemned to loss of prestige as a combat unit”, it recognises that being overweight “can be due to cultural, pathological or even psychological factors that need to be properly considered”. | Although La Legión admits that without the necessary action “we will be condemned to loss of prestige as a combat unit”, it recognises that being overweight “can be due to cultural, pathological or even psychological factors that need to be properly considered”. |
| An army spokesman said the initiative, which began last September, was designed to improve legionnaires’ wellbeing. | An army spokesman said the initiative, which began last September, was designed to improve legionnaires’ wellbeing. |
| “The reaction has been very positive and the initial results are good,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of personal motivation in this even though losing kilos is difficult. We just wanted to give them a helping hand.” | “The reaction has been very positive and the initial results are good,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of personal motivation in this even though losing kilos is difficult. We just wanted to give them a helping hand.” |
| La Legión was modelled on the French Foreign Legion and was closely associated with its best known member, Francisco Franco, during the Spanish civil war and subsequent dictatorship. | La Legión was modelled on the French Foreign Legion and was closely associated with its best known member, Francisco Franco, during the Spanish civil war and subsequent dictatorship. |
| Recognisable by their tasselled caps and open-necked shirts, the legionnaires found themselves attracting global attention last year after a Twitter user posted a picture of well-built soldiers and captioned it: “The Spanish Foreign Legion’s uniform doesn’t have a top button, which makes them the fruitiest killers in Europe.” | Recognisable by their tasselled caps and open-necked shirts, the legionnaires found themselves attracting global attention last year after a Twitter user posted a picture of well-built soldiers and captioned it: “The Spanish Foreign Legion’s uniform doesn’t have a top button, which makes them the fruitiest killers in Europe.” |
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