[bradarner]

No, I do mean precisely the average muscle mass is higher. Granted we are dealing with statistics. There is inevitably a lot more context than just a myopic focus on this single fact.

Dated but still relevant: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/evolution-bmi-values-us-adult...

This is particular relevant in the military because your fitness level is graded relative to you BMI. Hence, it is common trope one hears in the military. It is a practical question in the military. If the BMI is based on 1950's pilots and today's soldiers have a higher average BMI, then it can have an impact on promotions, fitness scores, health assessments, etc.

[johnyzee]

They keep lowering the standards for acceptance into the military, because young people are becoming less and less fit.

Just one link out of many (this is well known): https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/09/28/new-pentagon-...

[grogenaut]

Without a Waiver due to:

* obesity (the topic) (11%)

* drug use (marajuana in a country where it's legal in 24 of 50 states) (8%)

* mental / physical health (7%)

how much of that was just previously hidden or lied about? also it doesn't show any previous stats. So can't really draw any conclusions. also doesn't cover where the deltas were from.

[karaterobot]

Sorry, what am I missing here? Your link talks about average weight and BMI increasing, not muscle mass. You couldn't safely draw a conclusion about muscle mass from BMI.