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WASHINGTON — A former surgeon general warned Friday that America's obesity epidemic is a national security problem as the more than 9 million overweight and obese children in the country threaten to shrink the pool of eligible servicemen and women.

Tucson's Dr. Richard Carmona, who finished his term as surgeon general in 2006 and now chairs the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent Obesity Alliance, said that obesity is no longer an individual problem but one that "undermines the strength of our nation."

The rise in childhood obesity, Carmona said, has coincided with a rise in related chronic conditions such as type II diabetes and hypertension.

"These are middle-aged diseases," he said. "And we are seeing them in elementary school children."

The rapidly growing population of overweight, obese and physically unfit children is starting to affect the military, Carmona said. He noted that obesity is one of the most common reasons servicemen cannot fully perform their duties.

Carmona cited as the main causes of childhood obesity the increase in low-income, single-parent homes; the elimination of physical education in public schools; and the lack of access to gyms and nutritious food among the poor.

Calling obesity "the terror within," Carmona said that prevention is critical to combating it.

"Prevention is still a radical concept to most Americans," he said. "But as a nation, we must join together and move from being a treatment-oriented society to being a prevention-oriented society."

Health literacy — understanding of what foods are healthy and unhealthy — a more active lifestyle and living by the motto do "everything in moderation" are the best ways to prevent childhood and adult obesity, Carmona said. He also noted that the poor need better access to nutritious foods and fitness facilities.

Carmona spoke at a press conference at George Washington University.