The Boy Scouts of America motto, "Be prepared," typically means being able to tie complicated knots, build campfires, ward off bears and discriminate between edible and poisonous berries.
It does not apply to heart attacks, strokes or diabetic comas.
But the expanding waistlines of troop leaders, a widespread phenomenon fondly called the "leader belly" by Scouts, have pressed the nearly 100-year-old organization to place weight restrictions on some outings.
The restrictions, which will take effect in January, ban overweight leaders from venturing more than 30 minutes from ground transportation that can reach a hospital.
"For high-adventure activities for which medical care may be delayed, restrictions based on standardized height/weight ratios are now mandatory," says a statement on the Boy Scouts of America Web site.
At 5 foot 6 and 270 pounds, Joshua Godinez is too heavy to venture more than half an hour beyond the trailhead, according to the new rules.
The 40-year-old father of three has been volunteering with the organization for more than 12 years. He has climbed mountains and hiked miles with his Scouts over the years, but won't be able to do the hike up Mount Whitney next year.
"I do think that the BSA is trying to make sure that we don't become known as a bunch of old fat guys, and from that perspective, I can't do anything but support it, because I definitely want the Boy Scouts to have the reputation that they deserve in regards to promoting good health," he said. "It's unfortunate, though, that a lot of men who are very strong, capable leaders are outside of that restriction."
Since news of the regulations reached the 1.2 million adults who volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, a debate has dominated Godinez's blog, BoyandGirlScouts.com.
"This policy will be the death of our troop. The two core leaders in our troop fall out of the norm for BMI. Yet we are the ones who hike, bike, canoe and are right there at every activity with the youth," wrote one leader, Francis Montry.
Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, said that the restrictions won't prevent overweight people from volunteering, as they only apply to "high-adventure" activities in remote areas.
Scouts Canada officials said they are not considering adopting similar policies.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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