Army Body Fat Calculator

The U.S. Armys requires all service members to meet army percentage body fat standards to qualify for military service. Hence, individuals should be aware of their body fat requirements and acceptable allowances. To make lives easier, we have come up with this simple Army Body Fat Calculator that will help you know your body fat within seconds. Use this calculator to find out whether or not you are in compliance with the U.S. Army standards (1).

What Is The Body Fat Percentage?

It is the total fat divided by the total body mass. It includes essential body fat and the reserved fat or visceral fat.

Essential fat is the fat needed for the body, and the percentage of it is around 3-5% for males and 8-11% for females. It needs to be noted that females have a higher essential fat percentage compared to males due to low muscle in their body (2).

How Does An Army Body Fat Calculator Work?

This Army Body Fat Calculator tool is designed to assess the fat value of a n individual based on their personal measurements of height, neck, hip, and waist. It also takes into account the age and gender of the individual (1).

Once you enter your personal measurements, this tool helps in evaluating body fat and also lets you know if you meet the U.S. Army’s recruitment standards or are in compliance with the more stringent standards of the Department of Defense.

The tool uses the compliance results to decide whether or not you are likely to be fit to be in the U.S. Army.

What are the necessary measurements?

As stated in the Medical Fitness Standards, the body fat percentage is determined using the height, neck, waist (for men), or hip (for women) measurements (1).

Proceed with caution while taking these measurements. One should stand upright with their arms relaxed and resting at their sides.

Locate the point just beneath the larynx when measuring the neck. When measuring the waist, focus on the point with the smallest circumference (or near the belly button).

Measure the hip at its widest point to determine the most accurate fat percentage. This careful approach ensures precise and reliable results.

Body Fat Formula (U.S. Army Method)

Most people believe that body fat percentage is calculated based on BMI, but that is not the case.

Body fat is calculated based on correlations between several body circumference measurements in relation to a person’s height.

To calculate the body fat for males, the following Navy seal formula is used (3):

86.01 x log10(waist – neck) – 70.041 x log10(height) + 36.76

To calculate the body fat for females, the following formula is used:

163.205 x log10(waist + hip – neck) – 97.684 x log10(height) – 78.387

All measurements are in inches. For centimeters, replace 36.76 with 30.30 in the formula for men, and 78.387 with 104.912 in the formula for women.

Example:

Switching to the inches tab, let’s look at a 35-year-old male. He weighs 210 lbs, stands at 6 feet 1 inch (73 inches), and has a 21-inch neck and 41-inch waist. The outcomes shown are:

=86.01 x log10(waist – neck) – 70.041 x log10(height) + 36.76

=86.01 x log 10(41-21)- 70.041 x log 10(73)+ 36.76

Result – Body fat percentage = 18.15%;

In the Metric section, following are the results provided for a 28-year-old woman, weighing 93 kg and 173 cm tall, with a neck size of 42 cm and waist measurement of 86 cm:

= 163.205 x log10(waist + hip – neck) – 97.684 x log10(height) – 104.912

= 163.205 x log 10(86+173-42) – 97.684 x log 10(173) – 104.912

Result – Body fat percentage = 34.22% (6)

The U.S. Army Body Fat Percentage Standards – Male & Female Charts

The following chart helps to give an idea of this acceptable fat percentage an individual can have to join the U.S Army. These standards are according to the U.S. Army Regulation of 2017, Standards of Medical Fitness (1).

How Much Body Fat Is Allowed To Be In The U.S. Army?

According to the U.S. Army Regulation of 2017, Standards of Medical Fitness, the maximum allowed body fat percentage to remain a part of the army is presented in the table below (1):

If you are over the limit, you can follow the below-mentioned tips to reduce body fat.

Tips For Reducing Body Fat

• Reduce Calorie Intake: The first step to reducing body fat is lowering calorie intake. Consuming more than the required amount of calories in a day can increase body weight and fat percentages and cause harm to health. In fact, short-term low-calorie diets were found to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce body fat mass in obese women (4).
• Follow A Healthy Diet: Follow a diet that has a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. You can alter the macronutrient composition and avoid excessive deposition of fats.
• Exercise Regularly: Regular exercise, especially resistance training, helps burn body fat. Persistent physical activity helps maintain a lower body fat percentage (5).
• Consume high-fiber foods: Consumption of foods high in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, is a great way to combat increasing body fat (6).
• Focus On Lean Muscle Mass: Consumption of foods high in proteins helps in building lean muscle mass, thereby reducing fat percentage (7).
• Keep Yourself Hydrated: Drinking enough water throughout the day helps to curb the hunger signals and reduces your chances of taking in too many calories (8).

The army body fat calculator serves as a valuable tool in maintaining fitness standards. Individuals can assess their body fat levels and work towards their goals by using accurate measurements and guidelines. While the calculator promotes health and readiness among the army personnel, remember that it isn’t just for the military. It can benefit anyone striving for a healthier lifestyle. This tool is here to support your fitness journey and ensure you are meeting the required standards effectively.

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Himanshi MahajanHealth & Wellness Writer

 

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