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Too fat to march: Spanish Legion soldiers put on diet

The fierce reputation of Spanish Legion soldiers is being put to the test: too fat, some of them have been offered a weight-loss plan to save the "prestige" of the force.

All legionnaires of this rapid reaction force -- more than 3,000 soldiers -- underwent a medical exam that measured their body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat.

Six percent of the members, or 180 legionnaires, had a BMI of over 30 (the obesity limit) and a decision was made to launch a plan to help them, said a military source.

The weight-loss program includes a nutritional plan and exercise, as well as medical tests, conferences and psychological monitoring.