The US Army has been forced to overhaul its basic training regime – for the first time in 30 years – due to the poor fitness levels of recruits.

Medium and long distance marches and running exercises have been replaced by zig-zag running and muscle building.

According to an US Army spokesperson, the new 10-week basic training schedule now resembles group classes run in civilian health clubs, with the emphasis on building up body strength, power and speed of the recruits accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle and sugar-heavy diets.

The last time the Army changed physical exercise programme for new recruits was in 1980 – the first year that women trained alongside their male counterparts.