The primary purpose of fitness and body composition standards in the U.S. Armed Forces has always been to select individuals best suited to the physical demands of military service, based on the assumption that proper body weight and composition supports good health, physical fitness, and appropriate military appearance.

The current epidemic of overweight and obesity in the United States affects the military services. The pool of available recruits is reduced because of failure to meet body composition standards for entry into the services, a high percentage of individuals exceeding military weight-for-height standards at the time of entry into the service leave the military before completing their term of enlistment.

Weight Management: State of the Science and Opportunities for Military Programs is the latest in a series of reports focused on improving the nutrition, health and performance of the U.S. military personnel. The report

• reviews the scientific evidence on factors that influence body weight;
• makes recommendations to the Department of Defense on strategies for preventing weight gain in military personnel, essential components for weight/fat loss programs in the military, standardization of programs across the different Service branches; and
• identifies gaps in the knowledge base where additional research is needed.