Michelle Obama turns to military as part of fitness program

First Lady Michelle Obama is turning to military tactics to help get American children in shape.

During a visit to Fort Jackson, the Army's largest training facility, near Columbia, S.C., Obama met with officials on Thursday to see how the military is working to combat the obesity crisis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12.5 million children and teens are obese. The agency estimates obesity-related illnesses accounted for 9 percent of medical costs in 2008.

In April, former military leaders asked Congress to get the childhood-nutrition bill passed because current obesity trends are affecting military enrollment eligibility. In a report, Too Fat to Fight, the group of former generals found that almost three-quarters of young adults were ineligible to join the military because they didn't graduate from high school, had a criminal record, or were physically unfit.

Having too few physically fit recruits poses a threat to national security, Obama said at the military base.

Taking pointers from drill sergeants, the first lady observed what foods are offered in the dining halls and strength training exercises to increase stamina.