A new breed of heavyweight soldier is set to appear after the army relaxed recruiting rules. The Ministry of Defence has decided weight limits designed to screen out fat and unfit applicants are also excluding some of the strongest candidates.
    Previously men with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 28 have been barred from joining the military - meaning that world-class rugby players such as England's Lawrence Dallaglio and New Zealand's Jonah Lomu would be rejected.

    But by extending the threshold to 32 - two points above the World Health Organisation's definition of obesity - a 6ft recruit could weigh almost 17 stone and still be admitted.

    The limits for women will remain the same at 28.

    An MoD spokesman said: "It's reflecting the fact that the BMI is not a perfect science. It's just an indication of your fitness level. People like Lawrence Dallaglio are technically overweight. We are doing this because not all good applicants fit into the categories."

    BMI is calculated by squaring your height in metres and then dividing your weight in kilograms by the result.

    The weight test has been used because bigger soldiers were often unable to take on certain roles. Drivers' seats in tanks, for example, offer limited space.

    However, there is a recognition that brute strength can be useful for tasks such as carrying artillery for extended periods, and building bridges.

    The MoD insists that the rule change will not lead to any "lowering of standards". Candidates must still pass physical fitness tests, with those aged under 30 obliged to complete 44 press ups and 50 sit-ups in two minutes, before running a mile-and-a-half in 10 minutes 30 seconds.

英国有关方面日前决定将放宽男性士兵的征兵体检标准，今后，在英国的军营中，人们将看到一些体重远远超过平均水平的士兵。

    据《每日邮报》1月8日报道，英国国防部现在已经明确意识到，原来制定的与体重有关的诸多限制固然可以剔除掉那些身体肥胖且不够健康的申请入伍者，但同时也使某些体格最为强壮的人被拒之门外。按照以前的规定，体重指数（BMI）大于28的申请者是没有资格成为一名英国军人的，这也就意味着那些世界级橄榄球选手，诸如英格兰队的劳伦斯·达拉格里奥以及新西兰队的乔那·诺姆，他们申请入伍会遭到军方的拒绝。

    所谓BMI其实就是将体重（kg）除以身高（m）的平方所得到的数值。但现在有关方面将这一指标提高到了32，比世界卫生组织规定的肥胖标准还要高出两个点，这样的话，对于一个身高6英尺（约1.83米）的申请者来说，即使其体重高达17石（约108公斤）也依然可以被批准入伍。

    女性申请者的体重指数标准不包括在此次改革范围之内，仍为原有的28。英国国防部的一位发言人说：“从现实情况来看，BMI并不是一种完美无缺的科学标准，它其实只不过是用来衡量身体健康水准的一项指标而已。如果通过该指标进行评价的话，那么像劳伦斯·达拉格里奥这样的人也会被认为体重超标。而我们之所以对其做出相应修改，主要是因为并非所有身体条件出众的申请者都能符合以前的要求。”

    报道说，有关方面之所以在征兵过程中一直对申请者进行专门的体重检测，主要因为那些块头太大的士兵往往无法胜任军营中某些特定的工作，比如坦克内驾驶员座位所能提供的空间就极为有限。不过，现在人们对此有了一种全新的认识，那就是体格超强的士兵同样可以在另外一些任务上大显身手，比如更长时间的操纵大炮以及搭建桥梁等。

    英国国防部认为，征兵规则上的这一变动并不意味着征兵标准出现了任何程度的降低。应征者仍然需要通过专门的体能测试，具体来说，30岁以下的申请者须首先在2分钟内完成44个俯卧撑和50个仰卧起坐，然后再用最多10分30秒的时间跑完1.5英里（2413.5米）的路程。

    （国际在线独家资讯 张咏）