The Army Body Composition Standard Since July 2026
On 7 July 2026 the Army replaced body fat percentage with a single number: the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Army Directive 2026-13, signed by Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll on 1 July 2026, makes it the only authorized measure under the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP) for the Regular Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve, including USMA and Senior ROTC cadets.
The rule is the same for every soldier, at every age, male or female:
WHtR = waist circumference at the navel (inches) ÷ height (inches), recorded to three decimal places with any further digits dropped. A ratio below 0.55 meets the standard. 0.550 or higher does not.
Because it is a ratio, the units cancel: measuring both in centimetres gives the same answer.
What the Directive Changed
| Before 7 July 2026 | Now (AD 2026-13) |
|---|---|
| Height and weight screening tables, then a tape test if over weight | Everyone gets the WHtR, no weight screen |
| One-site abdominal tape converted to body fat percentage | Waist at the navel divided by height, no conversion |
| Maximum body fat by age and sex (20 to 26% men, 30 to 36% women) | One line for all: below 0.55 |
| Supplemental DXA, InBody 770 or Bod Pod on request | Rescinded; nothing can challenge the WHtR |
| AFT score of 465 with 80 per event exempted you | Rescinded; no score exempts anyone |
| DA Form 5501 body fat worksheet | DA Form 5500 only, plus the ATIS record |
| Monthly weigh-ins and mandatory progress while enrolled | Rescinded; commanders decide when to re-measure |
| Unit ABCP NCO appointed by the commander | Rescinded; the commander runs the program directly |
Largest Passing Waist by Height
The fail line is 0.55 × height. A waist exactly on the line records as 0.550 and fails, so the last column is the biggest half-inch tape reading that still passes.
| Height | Inches | Fail line (0.55 × height) | Largest passing waist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4'10" | 58 | 31.9 in | 31.5 in |
| 5'0" | 60 | 33.0 in | 32.5 in |
| 5'2" | 62 | 34.1 in | 34.0 in |
| 5'4" | 64 | 35.2 in | 35.0 in |
| 5'5" | 65 | 35.8 in | 35.5 in |
| 5'6" | 66 | 36.3 in | 36.0 in |
| 5'7" | 67 | 36.9 in | 36.5 in |
| 5'8" | 68 | 37.4 in | 37.0 in |
| 5'9" | 69 | 38.0 in | 37.5 in |
| 5'10" | 70 | 38.5 in | 38.0 in |
| 5'11" | 71 | 39.1 in | 39.0 in |
| 6'0" | 72 | 39.6 in | 39.5 in |
| 6'2" | 74 | 40.7 in | 40.5 in |
| 6'4" | 76 | 41.8 in | 41.5 in |
How the Screening Runs
- Twice a year minimum. Every soldier is measured at least twice per calendar year, and a commander can order a WHtR at any time.
- Seven days after the AFT or CFT. Units leave at least seven days between the fitness test and the WHtR unless operations require otherwise.
- Same-day confirmation. A reading of 0.550 or higher is re-measured the same duty day by a different team before any action is taken.
- Recorded on DA Form 5500 and in the Army Training Information System (ATIS). Every soldier had to have a WHtR on record within 90 days of the directive, by early October 2026.
- Pregnant and postpartum soldiers keep their existing medical exemptions.
What Happens at 0.550 or Higher
- The soldier is flagged (flag code K, not transferable) and enrolled in the ABCP.
- Regular Army and AGR soldiers get a commander-directed medical exam to rule out an underlying condition. Reserve Component soldiers may request one at their own expense.
- There are no monthly weigh-ins or progress quotas any more. The soldier is removed from the ABCP as soon as a measurement comes in below 0.55.
- Units may start separation paperwork, but no soldier will be separated until Army headquarters finishes a 180-day assessment of the new standard and issues further guidance.
Why the Change
The Army Comprehensive Body Composition study had already shown in 2023 that abdominal circumference alone predicted body fat about as well as the old multi-site tape. The December 2025 Department of War guidance on fitness standards then directed every service to screen body composition with the waist-to-height ratio from 1 January 2026, replacing height and weight tables with a measure that tracks cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The Army implemented it with AD 2026-13. AR 600-9 itself, still dated 16 July 2019, is due to be rewritten within two years, and the directive controls until then.