A new study by the nonprofit Mission Readiness finds that 42 percent of 17-to-24-year-olds in Hawaii are too overweight or obese to qualify for military service. That’s up from 33 percent just over a decade ago.

Mission Readiness is a nonpartisan national security organization led by more than 200 retired military leaders.

The latest numbers in Hawaii reflect a worsening national problem, according to the study. Obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years, and Hawaii is now one of 40 states in which at least 40 percent of young adults are considered overweight or obese.

Researchers say that schools are using outdated kitchen equipment like deep fryers, and not taking steps to encourage healthy diets. 

Using 2008 figures, researcher determined that Hawaii’s overweight 17-to-24-year-olds would have to together lose 1.5 million pounds to reach healthy weights.

“By any measure—the military’s or various CDC surveys—it is beyond question that too many young people in Hawaii are overweight or obese,” the study’s authors wrote.

Read the complete study from Mission Readiness.