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Marine Corps Body Composition Program: The Flawed Measurement System.

ADA510479

Publication Date	2006
Personal Author	Anzevino, J. D.
Page Count	9
Abstract	The Marine Corps' Body Composition Program (BCP) is designed to shift focus from height/weight tables to body fat measurements to eliminate weight control program inconsistencies due to local interpretation and implementation, while providing a more appropriate focus on health and fitness and reducing the time and manpower associated with the administration of the program. The program not only eliminates an unrealistic 'no tolerance' height and weight standard, it allows Marines with different body compositions to be held to the same Marine Corps standards as their peers, regardless of their shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, however, the tape measurement system used by the BCP to determine a Marine's body fat percentage is the least accurate of all methods currently being utilized in the medical world. Forms of body fat testing range from inaccurate height/weight tables to the highly accurate method of Hydrostatic Weighing (Hydrodensitometry, Underwater Weighing, Dunk tank). The cost of these methods ranges from zero dollars to $100 per test for Hydrostatic Weighing. Because the Marine Corps and the DoD do not have the budget for Hydrostatic Weighing, something in between that encompasses the needs/requirements of the military at an affordable price is needed. In Joe King's article, he evaluates and researches 13 different methods of testing body fat, and discusses the logistics and prices involved with each. Out of the methods he evaluates, he identifies the Calipers (skin fold) Method as being the 'happy medium' between accuracy and pricing. The Calipers Method measures skin folds to calculate the amount of subcutaneous fat a person has. This number is then entered into an equation to predict the body density and then body fat percentage.
Keywords	Measurement Standardization Marine corps personnel Human body Adipose tissue Military standards Height Body weight Physical fitness Manpower Costs Accuracy Subcutaneous tissue Marine corps Body composition Body fat Weight control program Tape measurement method Circumference-based method Calipers method Body composition program Subcutaneous fat
Source Agency	Non Paid ADAS
Corporate Authors	Marine Corps Univ., Quantico, VA. Command and Staff Coll.
Supplemental Notes	EWS Contemporary Issues Paper.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Research paper.
NTIS Issue Number	201008

Marine Corps Body Composition Program: The Flawed Measurement System.

Marine Corps Body Composition Program: The Flawed Measurement System.
ADA510479

Publication Date	2006
Personal Author	Anzevino, J. D.
Page Count	9
Abstract	The Marine Corps' Body Composition Program (BCP) is designed to shift focus from height/weight tables to body fat measurements to eliminate weight control program inconsistencies due to local interpretation and implementation, while providing a more appropriate focus on health and fitness and reducing the time and manpower associated with the administration of the program. The program not only eliminates an unrealistic 'no tolerance' height and weight standard, it allows Marines with different body compositions to be held to the same Marine Corps standards as their peers, regardless of their shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, however, the tape measurement system used by the BCP to determine a Marine's body fat percentage is the least accurate of all methods currently being utilized in the medical world. Forms of body fat testing range from inaccurate height/weight tables to the highly accurate method of Hydrostatic Weighing (Hydrodensitometry, Underwater Weighing, Dunk tank). The cost of these methods ranges from zero dollars to $100 per test for Hydrostatic Weighing. Because the Marine Corps and the DoD do not have the budget for Hydrostatic Weighing, something in between that encompasses the needs/requirements of the military at an affordable price is needed. In Joe King's article, he evaluates and researches 13 different methods of testing body fat, and discusses the logistics and prices involved with each. Out of the methods he evaluates, he identifies the Calipers (skin fold) Method as being the 'happy medium' between accuracy and pricing. The Calipers Method measures skin folds to calculate the amount of subcutaneous fat a person has. This number is then entered into an equation to predict the body density and then body fat percentage.
Keywords	Measurement Standardization Marine corps personnel Human body Adipose tissue Military standards Height Body weight Physical fitness Manpower Costs Accuracy Subcutaneous tissue Marine corps Body composition Body fat Weight control program Tape measurement method Circumference-based method Calipers method Body composition program Subcutaneous fat
Source Agency	Non Paid ADAS
Corporate Authors	Marine Corps Univ., Quantico, VA. Command and Staff Coll.
Supplemental Notes	EWS Contemporary Issues Paper.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Research paper.
NTIS Issue Number	201008