Bolivian President Evo Morales, a socialist who might be best known outside of Latin American politics for calling Israel a terrorist state and kicking a soccer ball around with Oliver Stone while the two men chewed on coca leaves, thinks that too many of the men serving in his army are out of shape. After taking in their leader's complaints about the fatness of Bolivia's finest, security forces have begun to register all of their overweight members.

According to BBC, military officials said they will register the weight of their soldiers before professional exams in an effort to link promotion and fitness.

"[Soldiers] must be prepared both on an intellectual and physical level," Bolivian Defense Minister Ruben Saavedra said.

Bolivian police have forbidden overweight officers from wearing their police uniforms until they can comfortably get back into them, a restriction that has led to an unexpected triumph in undercover work. For instance, in the town of Oruro two policemen who were patrolling in their civilian clothing and ended up nabbing thieves in a street market because the they weren't in obvious peace-keeping attire.

Morales has insinuated soldiers and officers who neglect their physical fitness should not be promoted by insisting that staying in good shape was one of the responsibilities of being in the security forces.

The Bolivian government has been supplying equipment to soldier barracks and police stations in an effort to get their guys in shape, as the soldiers and police have complained of a lack of sports facilities.

The slovenly state of soldiers is not just a problem for Bolivia.

According to Military.com, in the Unites States 20 percent of all male recruits and 40 percent of all female recruits are simply too heavy to enter into the military ranks, which means the new recruits have to actually lose weight before they can get in and really start working out.

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