The Spanish army has put soldiers in one of its most famous units on a diet amid fears some are becoming obese.
Members of La Legión, an elite infantry regiment founded almost a century ago, are nicknamed the Bridegrooms of Death and known for their toughness, distinctive pastel uniforms and rapid marching pace.
However, concerns have emerged over the legionnaires’ waistlines and fitness levels, prompting the army to act.
“La Legión has ended up in a situation that requires a series of measures to reduce excess weight among its personnel,” according to an internal memo published this week by El País.
The document noted that factors including a lack of fitness facilities and a higher average age among legionnaires were contributing to the problem.
More than 3,000 troops have undergone checks to determine their body mass index (BMI), of whom 180 (6%) were found to have a BMI of 30 or above, making them obese. They received medical examinations as well as nutritional advice and exercise plans to help them lose between 500g and 1kg a week.
Although La Legión admits that without the necessary action “we will be condemned to loss of prestige as a combat unit”, it recognises that being overweight “can be due to cultural, pathological or even psychological factors that need to be properly considered”.
An army spokesman said the initiative, which began last September, was designed to improve legionnaires’ wellbeing.
“The reaction has been very positive and the initial results are good,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of personal motivation in this even though losing kilos is difficult. We just wanted to give them a helping hand.”
La Legión was modelled on the French Foreign Legion and was closely associated with its best known member, Francisco Franco, during the Spanish civil war and subsequent dictatorship.
Recognisable by their tasselled caps and open-necked shirts, the legionnaires found themselves attracting global attention last year after a Twitter user posted a picture of well-built soldiers and captioned it: “The Spanish Foreign Legion’s uniform doesn’t have a top button, which makes them the fruitiest killers in Europe.”
