Army Body Fat Calculator

How to Calculate Army Body Fat Percentage

The U.S. Army uses a specific method to calculate body fat percentage based on body circumference measurements. This method, known as the "tape test," is outlined in Army Regulation 600-9. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to calculate Army body fat percentage.

Army Body Fat Formula

The Army uses different formulas for males and females:

For Males:

$$\text{Body Fat} \% = 86.010 \times \log_{10}(\text{Waist} - \text{Neck}) - 70.041 \times \log_{10}(\text{Height}) + 36.76$$

For Females:

$$\text{Body Fat} \% = 163.205 \times \log_{10}(\text{Waist} + \text{Hip} - \text{Neck}) - 97.684 \times \log_{10}(\text{Height}) - 78.387$$

Where:

• Waist, Neck, Hip, and Height are measured in inches
• $$\log_{10}$$ represents the base-10 logarithm

Calculation Steps

1. Take accurate measurements of height, neck circumference, and waist circumference (and hip circumference for females)
2. Convert all measurements to inches if necessary
3. For males, subtract neck measurement from waist measurement
4. For females, add waist and hip measurements, then subtract neck measurement
5. Calculate the logarithms as specified in the formula
6. Multiply and add the results according to the formula
7. Round the final result to the nearest tenth of a percent

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the body fat percentage for a male soldier with the following measurements:

• Height: 70 inches
• Neck: 15 inches
• Waist: 34 inches

Step 1: Apply the formula

$$\begin{align} \text{Body Fat} \% &= 86.010 \times \log_{10}(34 - 15) - 70.041 \times \log_{10}(70) + 36.76 \\ &= 86.010 \times \log_{10}(19) - 70.041 \times \log_{10}(70) + 36.76 \end{align}$$

Step 2: Calculate the logarithms

$$\begin{align} \text{Body Fat} \% &= 86.010 \times 1.2788 - 70.041 \times 1.8451 + 36.76 \\ &= 109.98 - 129.23 + 36.76 \end{align}$$

Step 3: Final calculation

$$\text{Body Fat} \% = 17.51\%$$

Step 4: Round to the nearest tenth

The final body fat percentage is 17.5%.

Visual Representation

This bar chart illustrates the calculated body fat percentage (17.5%) in comparison to the maximum allowable body fat percentage for males in the U.S. Army (26%).