Enter your age, height, neck circumference, and waist circumference into the calculator below to determine your body fat percentage. This calculator uses the formula created for the Army’s body composition program.

Army Body Fat Formula

The following formula is used by the army to calculate approximate body fat percentages.

%BF = (86.010 * log10( waist – neck ) ) – [70.041 * log10(height)) + 36.76

BF% is the body fat percentage
waist is your waist circumference (in)
neck is your neck circumference (in)
height (in)

While this formula is not 100% accurate for all bodies, it is a good approximation to sift through thousands of possible applicants. If you take a look at the formula above, the best way to reduce this body fat percentage is to reduce the waist circumference, which is done by losing weight in general

Losing weight depends on a simple formula of eating fewer calories than you burn.

Army Body Fat Definition

An army body fat is a specific calculation for estimating body fat that is used in determining the suitability of a person for acceptance into the army.

Army Body Fat Requirements

Age 17 to 20 – 20% for males, 30% for females;
Age 21 to 27 – 22% for males, 32% for females;
Age 28 to 39 – 24% for males, 34% for females;
Age over 40 – 26% for males, 36% for females.

How to calculate army body fat?

First, measure your waist.
Measure your waist circumference.
Next, measure your neck circumference.
Measure your neck circumference.
Next, measure your height.
Measure your total height.
Finally, calculate the army body fat.
Calculate your army body fat percentage using the formula above.

FAQ

What is the significance of measuring body fat for the army?

Measuring body fat is crucial for the army as it helps in determining an individual’s physical fitness and suitability for service. It ensures that personnel can meet the physical demands of their duties.

Can the army body fat formula be used by civilians?

Yes, the army body fat formula can be used by civilians as a general guide to estimate body fat percentage. However, individuals should note that it may not be 100% accurate for all body types.

Why is waist circumference so important in the army body fat formula?

Waist circumference is a key factor in the army body fat formula because it is a direct indicator of visceral fat, the fat stored around the abdomen, which is a significant health risk factor.

Is it possible to meet the army’s body fat requirements through diet alone?

While diet plays a crucial role in reducing body fat, meeting the army’s body fat requirements typically requires a combination of a healthy diet and regular physical activity to effectively lose weight and improve body composition.

Army Body Fat Calculator (Men)