I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1977 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study relating to obesity 
in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2025 
Mr. BUCHANAN (for himself and Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study relat-
ing to obesity in the Armed Forces, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. STUDIES AND REPORTS RELATING TO OBESITY 
IN THE MILITARY. 
(a) IMPROVEMENT
OF TRANSPARENCY
AND FRE-
QUENCY OF MILITARY OBESITY REPORTS.—The Director 
of the Defense Health Agency shall take such actions as 
the Director considers appropriate to improve the trans-
parency and frequency of military obesity reports. 
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(b) STUDY AND REPORT ON CONTRIBUTION OF OBE-
SITY
TO
IN-SERVICE
INJURIES
AND
MEDICAL
DIS-
CHARGES.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct a study on— 
(A) the contribution of obesity to in-service 
injuries and medical discharges; and 
(B) annual costs to the Armed Forces as-
sociated with obesity-related in-service injuries 
and medical discharges. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on the results of the study conducted under 
paragraph (1). 
(c) STUDY AND REPORT ON TRANSFORMATION OF 
FOOD PROCUREMENT PROCESSES.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct a study on how the Department of Defense 
can transform the food procurement processes of the 
Department to procure healthier food that promotes 
better health outcomes. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
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a report on the results of the study conducted under 
paragraph (1). 
(d) STUDY AND REPORT ON ACCESS TO HEALTHY 
FOODS.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct a study on issues relating to access to 
healthy foods for families of members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on the results of the study conducted under 
paragraph (1). 
(e) REPORT ON IMPACT OF OBESITY ON NATIONAL 
SECURITY READINESS.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port on the impact on national security readiness of the 
rising levels of obesity among active-duty members of the 
Armed Forces. 
(f) CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘congressional defense 
committees’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code. 
Æ 
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