Tam Fry, a board member of the National Obesity Forum, described the findings as “deeply worrying” and warned British troops were now facing the same problems as the US military.
In America, nearly half of all soldiers on active duty are overweight, with 19 per cent obese, according to an official report published last year.
Mr Fry said: “It should be as concerning to the taxpayer as to the military that British personnel are being discharged because of obesity.
“The forces have every opportunity to keep their men and women in shape – that’s what boot camps are for – but they appear no better than civilian governments in maintaining their population’s fitness.
“It should be no comfort to us either that, from figures released this month, the same problem confronts the US military.
“In Washington generals are dubbing the crisis a national emergency.”
The latest figures have been released just months after it was revealed the Royal Regiment of Scotland is blighted by unfit soldiers.
Troops serving within the prestigious regiment have failed fitness tests 630 times in the past three years.
The Royal Highland Fusiliers were the worst hit, with soldiers failing tests involving timed runs, press-ups and sit-ups, 170 times.
The Black Watch were the next worst affected, with soldiers failing the two-minute tests 120 times.
The MoD said troops who fail are told to take more physical training. Only in extreme cases does failure result in discharge from the army.
A spokeswoman for the MoD said it is a condition of service that all solders are healthy and fitter than the general public.
She said: “Overall obesity levels within the army are consistently lower than in civilian life. All individuals are assessed on their ability to carry out military activities rather than on their weight.”
She added that information of soldiers released on medical grounds would be published next month.
Soldiers discharged from the Army for being obese
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