# How are the body fat standards set for military personnel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-body-fat-standards-set-for-military-personnel/97956 "2002-03-13T00:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-body-fat-standards-set-for-military-personnel/97956/1 "2002-03-13T00:50:19Z")
In particular, does anyone know the formula they derive their numbers from? I’d like to know so I can calculate whether I’ve improved or declined recently. I did a Google search, but maybe I used the wrong parameters. If anyone can help me find it, it would be appreciated. Thank you. -Dave ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-body-fat-standards-set-for-military-personnel/97956/2 "2002-03-13T03:12:20Z")
_sigh_ Do I have to do **every** thing for you? 😉 The Department of Defense locked two ensigns in a closet and told them not to come out until they had a body fat standard. The result is that the waist and hips are added together, and the neck is subtracted from that figure. The final number is checked against a chart, and the body fat percentage is shown. At [this site](http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/mpf/MPFWorkcenters/careerenhancement/wmp/wbfmp.htm), you can find a nifty proggie that’ll do the math for you, since apparently no one knows what the actual formula is. It’s the .zip file at the bottom of the screen. I downloaded it, and it’s pretty easy to use. Robin ---
**Author:** ![ricecake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@ricecake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricecake)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-body-fat-standards-set-for-military-personnel/97956/3 "2002-03-13T03:27:50Z")
Check this out [http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~bof/Weights/bodyfat.html](http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~bof/Weights/bodyfat.html) Theres the navy formula for body fat percentage, I cant imagine it would be much different for the airforce, but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-body-fat-standards-set-for-military-personnel/97956/4 "2002-03-13T04:50:29Z")
Dude, **AFI 36-401**. Give it a whirl. Check your orderly room. Tripler Don’t ask. I don’t wanna go there. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-body-fat-standards-set-for-military-personnel/97956/5 "2002-03-13T05:29:43Z")
Somehow I just knew that someone would refer me to the AFI (Air Force Instruction, for short). Me and my big mouth. If the rest of you don’t know, going through all the AFIs issued is a nightmare of interlocking rules and contradictory insanity. AFI 10-10-321 says “Don’t use 1 (800) COLLECT”. AFI 1-800-COLLECT says “You may use me, but don’t use 1 (800) CALL-ATT”. And you all get the picture. You’ve been a big help. :rolleyes: Thanks, Trip. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-body-fat-standards-set-for-military-personnel/97956/6 "2002-03-15T03:35:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > **You’ve been a big help. :rolleyes: Thanks, Trip.** Aaah, yes. I forgot. I read AFIs for a living. Don’t worry, I can give you a complete rundown on the program verbally. Basically, get someone to measure your neck and waist, subtract neck from waist, and go to the charts in the back of the book. Depending on your height, the difference will correspond to a particular fat percentage. Real fuckin’ scientific. Especially for 5’6" hockey players. :rolleyes: Tripler Again, don’t ask how I know these things.