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What is your opinion about the Army's body composition study? Do you think we need a change? Do you think the height/weight examination should be completely eliminated?
Body composition study makes stop at Fort Lee
Posted from dvidshub.net
Height and Weight
Health
Standards
Fitness
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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Yes we do need a change. Basing it off BMI is stupid. BMI is archaic and doesn't accurately represent anyone's body fat.
Too many people in the Army suffer from eating disorders because of the body composition standards. I know I do since I had my daughter it's hard af to keep weight off. And the fact that sometimes they measure me an inch shorter than I am so then I have to lose down to an inch shorter than I am.
From what I heard is that the ideas going around are to potentially raise the table weight to align with the fact that people are lifting more weights. Muscle weighs more than fat. So that makes sense we should adjust weight standards to the ACFT. Also there is an idea that they raise the limit of when they tape. Instead of if someone is 1 pound over maybe at 5 pounds over. Someone being 1 pound over the table weight is ridiculous to tape them. Also adjusting where we tape because everyone has different body types. I recall when there was a point for females we got our wrists taped. That made no sense - wtf does that have to do with body fat?
We need an overhaul in our body composition program also for the simple fact of how people consume food in this country. It doesn't matter really what you eat - everything is processed. Unless you are growing your own food, you're getting processed food. That's why people are fatter than they used to be - and the fact we have never modified how we measure body mass.
If it can stop people from going to extreme measures to pass weight every six months, I'm all for it. I know when I retire it's going to take me time to reprogram my body and have a healthy relationship with food again. Add in the fact I grew up with food insecurity...as do a lot of people. They really need to also start having new soldiers go through a dietary class or something. Because there are people who grew up food insecure, homeless, hungry or didn't have proper nutrition. I thought with the ACFT there was supposed to be a dietitian and personal trainer in every BN or something.
It needs to change.
Too many people in the Army suffer from eating disorders because of the body composition standards. I know I do since I had my daughter it's hard af to keep weight off. And the fact that sometimes they measure me an inch shorter than I am so then I have to lose down to an inch shorter than I am.
From what I heard is that the ideas going around are to potentially raise the table weight to align with the fact that people are lifting more weights. Muscle weighs more than fat. So that makes sense we should adjust weight standards to the ACFT. Also there is an idea that they raise the limit of when they tape. Instead of if someone is 1 pound over maybe at 5 pounds over. Someone being 1 pound over the table weight is ridiculous to tape them. Also adjusting where we tape because everyone has different body types. I recall when there was a point for females we got our wrists taped. That made no sense - wtf does that have to do with body fat?
We need an overhaul in our body composition program also for the simple fact of how people consume food in this country. It doesn't matter really what you eat - everything is processed. Unless you are growing your own food, you're getting processed food. That's why people are fatter than they used to be - and the fact we have never modified how we measure body mass.
If it can stop people from going to extreme measures to pass weight every six months, I'm all for it. I know when I retire it's going to take me time to reprogram my body and have a healthy relationship with food again. Add in the fact I grew up with food insecurity...as do a lot of people. They really need to also start having new soldiers go through a dietary class or something. Because there are people who grew up food insecure, homeless, hungry or didn't have proper nutrition. I thought with the ACFT there was supposed to be a dietitian and personal trainer in every BN or something.
It needs to change.
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MSG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) I feel your pain. I live off of a vegetable-based diet to make scale weight so I totally get your frustrations. Bottom line, I think if a Soldier can pass the ACFT, they shouldn't be subject to a screening. Instead, as SFC (Join to see) pointed out, they should be prioritized for H2F intervention to maximize their potential. Doing such a thing should help with recruiting a bit as well.
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SFC (Join to see)
I agree with SFC Fuerhoff in that the ABCP is incredibly detrimental to the overall mental well-being of many Soldiers. I don't think that the program needs to be eradicated, however, the measuring system needs to be redone, the allowances need to be revised, and we need to overhaul the mentality regarding the ABCP. Especially towards females. We demonize people because they bust the HT/WT initial screening and call them fat bodies when in realty, most are not actually fat. At worst, most are a little on the heavy side but certainly not fat. It has led to Soldiers making drastic choices to make HT/WT and tape like liposuction, insane fad diets, putting weird creams on then wrapping themselves in plastic and sitting in a sauna for excessive amounts of time, and developing eating disorders/unhealthy relationships with food. And for what? So 1SG doesn't call them a fat @$$? It makes no sense whatsoever.
As SFC (Join to see) said, some people (she mentioned women specifically) are naturally built in a way that makes them look big but they aren't. Yet they draw the ire of the command because we have beat into leadership that anyone who doesn't look the part doesn't belong in the club. That's not acceptable, especially when physical appearance allowances regarding hair, nails, and jewelry are being changed drastically as it is.
I would also agree that the system exacerbates the issues many have with food issues and food insecurities. We are pretty good as an organization at making mental health issues worse in Soldiers and then blaming them for it or for not getting the help they deserve but that our training schedules won't allow.
As SFC (Join to see) said, some people (she mentioned women specifically) are naturally built in a way that makes them look big but they aren't. Yet they draw the ire of the command because we have beat into leadership that anyone who doesn't look the part doesn't belong in the club. That's not acceptable, especially when physical appearance allowances regarding hair, nails, and jewelry are being changed drastically as it is.
I would also agree that the system exacerbates the issues many have with food issues and food insecurities. We are pretty good as an organization at making mental health issues worse in Soldiers and then blaming them for it or for not getting the help they deserve but that our training schedules won't allow.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - It's our hips and waist!! Like some of us can't help it we have wide hips and a big ass lol. I have starved myself so I don't get taped - not because anyone would call me fat. I definitely have never been called fat in the Army and right now if I tell people what I do to get under table weight (for even an inch shorter than I am) they say "What? You're not fat." Ding, ding exactly.
I guarantee when I retire, it's going to take me a long time to stop getting on the scale every day. To stop worrying about the number.
I guarantee when I retire, it's going to take me a long time to stop getting on the scale every day. To stop worrying about the number.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - I can understand that. There are many females with wide hips, waists and sizeable asses, lol. They always complain but sadly the regs have been against them for many years. Us fellers with long skinny necks get hosed too. It's super annoying so I understand the struggle a little bit, though not to the same extent. I have done some very unpleasant diets and cleanses and such to get to where I was under the table weight. I have been called fat for a number of years and it took its toll. I'm in a much better place in it now but it took a bit of time.
When I retire, which should be in the very near future, I definitely plan to give no cares about the stupid HT/WT standards of the Army and focus on my own health standards. Hopefully it doesn't take you too long to let go of those numbers on the scale and recognize you're healthy and fine the way you are!
When I retire, which should be in the very near future, I definitely plan to give no cares about the stupid HT/WT standards of the Army and focus on my own health standards. Hopefully it doesn't take you too long to let go of those numbers on the scale and recognize you're healthy and fine the way you are!
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The HT/WT and Tape Test that we have needs a serious revamping. The standards used are very old. We are not the skinny starved generation of WW2. As every other policy and regulation has evolutions, why can the HT/WT and Tape not have an evolution? Make-up, hair styles, earrings, nail polish...all kinds of things getting redressed and revamped...yet here we are still using old and outdated forms of body measurement. I'm certainly not saying to get rid of it...but update it. If a Soldier looks fat in uniform....and I don't mean just a little extra...I mean FAT...then yea, tape them.
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MSG (Join to see)
The only problem I see is the idea of appearing fat in uniform as a means to tape someone is subjective and may create concerns of discrimination. Good points though!
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MSG (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see) - Well, if their OCP top is screaming to the point where the zipper looks like it's gonna pop and create shrapnel.....
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MSG (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see) - I think you misunderstood what I was conveying. What I was implying is that we must draw a solid line and not leave things up to speculation or opinion. A proof positive method is to waive composition for those who pass the ACFT at a pre-established threshold. Someone who is fitting your mental of surpassing the standard is not going to pass the new test and will be subject to composition testing and H2F counseling anyway.
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Make it non-punitive if the SM can score over 70 in each event of the ACFT. Add it as a screening factor to identify priority groups for intervention with H2F personnel.
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MSG (Join to see)
I like the non-punitive perspective SFC (Join to see)! What you propose is a solid pathway to help Soldiers be the best version of themselves. Have you addressed your idea in townhalls or surveys?
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