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. 2009 Jul;3(4):761–769. doi: 10.1177/193229680900300424

Table 3.

Summary of Corresponding Values between Army Percent Body Fat Thresholds for Action, Waist Circumference, and Body Mass Index12

Men
<21 years Upper limit was set at 20% body fat, based on mean fitness values

  • Based on a 5% population distribution above the mean body fat of fit young men (15% body fat)

  • Corresponds to average BMI 25.0 kg/m2 in male military recruits

  • Corresponds to average “fit” aerobic capacity (46 ml/kg/min)
>39 years Upper limit was set at 26% body fat, based on thresholds of health risk

  • Corresponds to WC 38.5” (NHLBI health guideline, WC < 40”), based on average height 5'9” and neck circumference 15”

  • Corresponds to predicted BMI 27.5 kg/m2 in male soldiers
Women
<21 years Upper limit was set at 30% body fat, based on mean fitness values

  • Based on a 5% population distribution above the mean body fat of fit women (25% body fat)

  • Corresponds to average BMI 23.5 kg/m2 in a population of female military recruits
>39 years Upper limit was set at 36% body fat, based on thresholds of health risk

  • Corresponds WC 35.0” (NHLBI health guideline, WC < 35”) based on average height 5'4”, neck circumference 12.8”, and hips circumference 37”

  • Corresponds to predicted BMI 25.0 kg/m2 in female soldiers