Why is the current tape test method the Army standard for measuring body fat?
Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1308.3, “DoD Physical Fitness and Body Fat (BF) Programs Procedures”., dated 5 November 2002, provides physical and boy fat procedures to make the Army’s weight control program scientifically current and consistent with the other services. Specifically, the DoDI established percent body fat standards using the circumference-based method (body fat calculation equations, measurement sites, and measurement techniques). Body fat equations rely heavily on assessment of abdominal fat, the region of greatest interest to objectives of military fitness and general health standards. These equations were developed through analysis of population samples for relationships between measure of various body sites and the percentage of body fat, as validated against underwater equations. In addition, Department of Defense requires all services to use similar validated circumferential equations for the prediction of body fat composition. The purpose of the body fa
