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German troops fatter than civilians, report says

Story Highlights
New report finds civilians are in better shape than Germany army
Study says 40 percent of all soldiers between 18 and 29 are overweight
Study finds 35 percent of civilians between 18 and 29 have weight problem
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BERLIN, Germany (AP) -- Germany's Defense Ministry said that it would take very seriously a parliamentary report indicating that the nation's soldiers are more overweight than average civilians, a spokesman said Wednesday.

German soldiers are more overweight than civilians, a government-sponsored report says.

Ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe said the ministry was carefully analyzing the report, issued Tuesday by the parliamentary commissioner for the military, Reinhold Robbe, and would provide a summary of its own findings by midyear.

"Soldiers are too fat, don't do enough sports, and don't pay attention to what they eat," Robbe wrote.

His report drew on a study conducted by sports physicians at the University of Cologne showing that 40 percent of all soldiers between the ages of 18 and 29 are overweight, compared with 35 percent of German civilians the same age. E-mail to a friend