Why isn’t weight a good physical standard?

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 10:29:17 -0400

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 10:48 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 10:48:01 -0400

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member my first response is because muscle weighs more than fat. But this argument tends to fall because, while someone w/ more muscle may weigh the same as someone with more fat, the person with more fat will obviously be physically bigger.
That being said, I had a buddy that was discharged around the same time as me because he was "overweight". He had, about 10% body fat, but was all muscle - your typical "brick sh*thouse". Of course, that was 2000, so retention wasn't a huge focus as "nothing was going on".

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 2 at 2018 2:24 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 02 May 2018 14:24:34 -0400

It is a good indicator of physical condition when combined with other data, in of it self it is not an overall benchmark of physical condition

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 3:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 May 2018 15:45:55 -0400

By itself no - because you could have two people weigh the same but one is probably in better shape than the other. In fact, I've seen stories where women have gotten in shape but their weight was the same - but you can tell physically that they improved their physicality.

However - if someone weighs like 500+ lbs - I doubt they're in very good physical standing - like the people on my 600 lb life. (My daughter is 3 1/2 and loves the show for the surgical part - it depresses me and some of them make me mad).

There's always the underweight people too. Just because someone is "thin" doesn't mean healthy either.

Response by SFC Steve Christian made May 4 at 2018 2:11 PM

SFC Steve Christian — Fri, 04 May 2018 14:11:44 -0400

I have issue with being taped. For males, anyone can suck in their gut and raise their shoulders to make their neck bigger. Checking body fat % with a caliper is way more accurate.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 4 at 2018 7:14 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 04 May 2018 19:14:14 -0400

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member I Don't Know, I Do Know that the Army Rejected Me being 6'5" 129-133 lbs. Thanks to the Navy that Wavered My Weigh. I was 6'4" 179 lbs at Retirement.