CAPE CORAL, Fla. - A new report suggests obesity and other problems leave more than a third of young people unfit to serve their country in the military.

The news comes at a time when more young people are being drawn into military service in this economy for its guaranteed paycheck; but a growing number also wouldn't qualify because they don't meet the military's standards for physical fitness.

"We've all heard the joke, go to the Army or go to jail. And they think that's today's Army. But we're not that Army," said Staff Sgt. William Hamren, an Army recruiter in Cape Coral.

Recruiters say many young people don't realize the military doesn't accept just anybody anymore. A report in the "Army Times" shows 35% of 17-to-24-year olds wouldn't be eligible for service because of physical issues, primarily obesity.

"Based on your height, we have a target weight," said Staff Sgt. Hamren.

The military's requirement is fairly generous, on the upper end of the body-mass-index scale for "normal."

"An individual who might be like 5'6", male, his target weight is approximately 170 pounds," Staff Sgt. Hamren gave as an example. But the report suggests many kids don't even pass that.

"It's very scary how many parents will say to me without blinking, they eat nothing but junk food and they get no exercise at all," said pediatrician Dr. Annette MacKoul. She says childhood obesity is an alarming trend she sees everyday. She estimates the problem is likely even greater than the report suggests.

"It should hopefully be an awakening for a lot of parents to get up, get off the couch, get away from those video games and start to do something," said Dr. MacKoul.

Staff Sgt. William Hamren says some recruits can work hard to drop the pounds and qualify, but it isn't easy.

"We assess how far they are off of it. We do have programs, we run regular what we call PT, physical training, to try to help them lose the weight," Hamren said. "We do have ways to help, but there are cases where its unrealistic."

Physical requirements are only part of the equation; the military requires a clean criminal record and a high school diploma. But Staff Sgt. Hamren says many young people are trying to enlist with a GED, which the military doesn't typically accept without additional college credits.