Modernizing the U.S. Army’s Body Composition Policy

This article examines the U.S. Army’s evolving body composition policy and argues for modernized, evidence-based standards that better align health, readiness, and performance. It highlights limitations of traditional height-weight screening and body fat assessments, emphasizing the need to integrate performance metrics, injury prevention data, and holistic health outcomes. The authors recommend policy reforms that reduce stigma, improve Soldier retention, and better reflect operational demands, while ensuring the Army maintains a lethal, resilient, and medically optimized force.