Army fitness instructor says ‘body positivity is making recruits soft’

The PTI – who also owns an elite physical training business helping people to reach fitness levels required in the forces and high-intensity jobs like the police – said newbies gorge on high-sugar junk food and can’t cook healthy meals.

“Instead of eating whole foods, they opt for food that’s been heavily processed and highly concentrated with sugar which provides short-term happiness in exchange for damaging mental and physical health effects long-term,” he added.

And he fears their unhealthy lifestyles could even affect decision making in the field and leave them exhausted.

The dad-of-one and a soldier for eight years said: “Fitness and healthy eating affect the body significantly, including mental health and the quality of your sleep which are essential to performing your best physically. 

“Soldiers influenced by body positivity started to experience a decline in the quality of their sleep due to minimal fitness activity and unhealthy eating, which further impacted their physical ability to perform, their mental sharpness with decision making, and cognitive ability.”

But he pointed out that this was just his opinion, and that regardless of the state of the new recruits, the army has rigorous training and vetting procedures that mean all serving members end up in tip-top condition.

However, he insisted the same can’t be said for the British public – who are all getting fat.

Farren added: “People always talk about body positivity – being big is okay, and all that sort of stuff. I see that as promoting obesity.

“The media seems to put plus-sized people on the screen to please public opinion.

“But the hard facts show it’s wrong to promote a dangerous lifestyle.

“Being overweight can cause medical problems down the road.”