As America's elite crime investigators they are more used to tackling crime. But now FBI agents have been told they have to new enemy to battle -- calories. Expanding waistlines and lack of mobility for many agents has led to the introduction of a compulsory fitness tests. Those who fail will have the marks noted on their annual performance review and could lead to being moved from assignments that involve physical activity. Compulsory fitness tests have been introduced for all FBI agents following fears over expanding waistlines . FBI chief James Coney has introduced the tests amid fears his 135,000 agents are slipping behind when it comes to personal fitness. He said the force depends on its agents ability to 'run, fight and shoot'. Coney also said he wants the people to take one look at an agent think 'there goes a special agent of the FBI' rather than a derogatory remark about being overweight. Police in America are often parodied for their love of doughnuts and few forces have any weight restrictions. New recruits to the FBI have to take a physical test but for the last 16 years have not had to undergo any other fitness exam. As part of the annual test agents aged under 30 will have to run a mile in twelve and half minutes and sprint 300 metres in 59 seconds. They will also have to perform 24 push ups without stopping and 35 sit ups in a minute. Some agents have complained about the five minute break between the exercises as they struggle to catch their breath. FBI chief James Coney said the force depends on its agents' ability to 'run, fight and shoot' Older agents are given slightly longer times to perform the tests. A man in his 50s is allowed 15.14m for the mile run and 83 seconds for the sprint. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's 12,000 female agents must also take the test. According to the New York Times, who obtained an internal memo from Coney about the fitness tests, few agents have rushed to meet the October deadline to complete the physical. In the Washington DC office only 75 out of the 800 agents have taken the test. The introduction of the tests comes as America is grappling with an obesity problem with a third of adults deemed obese or overweight. Figures from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention show that almost 80million adults are obese and the cause of death of more than 120,000 people a year. First Lady Michelle Obama has been at the forefront of tackling child obesity with a nationwide 'Let's Move' campaign urging children to get more exercise. The cost to the health care system treating people with illness caused by overeating such as strokes and heart attacks has been put at $98billion a year. The concern about the fitness of FBI agents began after the 9/11 terror attacks when the agency switched its main mission from catching criminals to fighting terrorism. Rather than taking part in arrests, often involving chasing criminals, they would spend hours sat behind a desk. Much of their work now involves cyber crime and intelligence gathering which mostly involves desk work and little exercise. 'You could see that health and fitness were not the priority it used to be,' said Zachary Lowe, the chief of physical instruction at the FBI HQ in Quantico, Virginia. Much of the FBI's work now involves cyber crime and intelligence gathering which mostly involves desk work and little exercise - hence the new drive to get fit . FBI chief Comey, who took over in 2013, discovered on touring field offices that morale was low. He also notes that many agents didn't look as if they would be able to pass the physical exam they had taken on joining the force. His new regime has led to many calling the agency the 'Fit Bureau of Investigation.' J Edgar Hoover, the famed first director of the FBI, had made fitness tests compulsory while he was in charge. Its current director said the lives of people they protect depend on agents fitness and health and they were symbols of what is 'right and good' about the US. He said: 'The lives of your colleagues and those you protect may well depend upon your ability to run, fight and shoot, no matter what job you hold. 'I want you to look like the squared away object of that reverence. I want the American people to be able to take one glance at you and think "THERE is a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation".'
Compulsory fitness tests introduced thanks to expanding waistlines.
Those who fail could move from assignments  involving physical activity.
FBI chief James Coney: Force depends on agents to 'run, fight and shoot'