Average American woman - new study

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

These seem very reasonable. For my height, I'm right smack in the middle of the weight standard. I could do most of the fitness requirements right now for my age bracket. I don't consider myself particularly fit - just reasonably fit in a three times a week gym class kind of way with some outdoor activities on the side.

Right. I thought a 10 minute mile was considered basic fitness for an adult, so it seems like that’s really what they’re asking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

DP.. muscle weighs more than fat, so they shouldn't just look at weight alone, but overall fitness.

THis is such a stupid statement. No, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Do you really think that a pound of muscle is different than a pound of fat? Which weighs more, a ton of lead or a ton of feathers?

Muscle fiber is more dense, but it weighs the same.

ok, but if a woman weighs 160lbs, mostly muscle that shouldn't be considered "too heavy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

DP.. muscle weighs more than fat, so they shouldn't just look at weight alone, but overall fitness.

If you look at the links, they do. There are some standard fitness requirements in there — 10 minute mile, certain number of push ups, certain number of crunches, etc.

Right, so my understanding from the marine PP is that it is hard for women to weigh below the top of the standard and be strong enough to perform the fitness requirements. Isn’t that what they were saying? Tracks for me. I’ve always been right in the middle of a “healthy” weight and cant do a single real push up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

The physical fitness standards are not THAT hard. They are harder than the other services though. But they should be. I personally always found the run to be the hardest--I'm not much of a distance runner and never could max the run, although making the minimum was never a problem. Some struggle with the pull ups.


https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

The weight ranges is pretty wide, I don't agree that it is a challenge to make that. I'm 55 now (and no longer on active duty) but certainly have no problem being under 171 lbs!!

Height (in.) Maximum Weight (lbs.) Minimum Weight (lbs.)
56 115 85
57 120 88
58 124 91
59 129 94
60 133 97
61 137 100
62 142 104
63 146 107
64 151 110
65 156 114
66 155 117
67 161 121
68 171 125
69 176 128
70 181 132
71 186 136
72 191 140
73 197 144
74 202 148
75 208 152
76 213 156
77 219 160
78 225 164
79 230 168
80 236 173
81 242 177
82 248 182

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

DP.. muscle weighs more than fat, so they shouldn't just look at weight alone, but overall fitness.

If you look at the links, they do. There are some standard fitness requirements in there — 10 minute mile, certain number of push ups, certain number of crunches, etc.

Right, so my understanding from the marine PP is that it is hard for women to weigh below the top of the standard and be strong enough to perform the fitness requirements. Isn’t that what they were saying? Tracks for me. I’ve always been right in the middle of a “healthy” weight and cant do a single real push up.

That wasn't my experience, but perhaps today's female marines are more reflective of US women in general. Look at the weights posted above, it's a pretty wide range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

DP.. muscle weighs more than fat, so they shouldn't just look at weight alone, but overall fitness.

If you look at the links, they do. There are some standard fitness requirements in there — 10 minute mile, certain number of push ups, certain number of crunches, etc.

Right, so my understanding from the marine PP is that it is hard for women to weigh below the top of the standard and be strong enough to perform the fitness requirements. Isn’t that what they were saying? Tracks for me. I’ve always been right in the middle of a “healthy” weight and cant do a single real push up.

Have you ever actually tried, though? Like it's your job? It's fine to say that you meet the weight standard, work at a desk all day, and can't do the pushups. For me, the pull-ups would be the real challenge.

But, if it were my actual job to meet all those standards? No problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

DP.. muscle weighs more than fat, so they shouldn't just look at weight alone, but overall fitness.

If you look at the links, they do. There are some standard fitness requirements in there — 10 minute mile, certain number of push ups, certain number of crunches, etc.

Right, so my understanding from the marine PP is that it is hard for women to weigh below the top of the standard and be strong enough to perform the fitness requirements. Isn’t that what they were saying? Tracks for me. I’ve always been right in the middle of a “healthy” weight and cant do a single real push up.

Have you ever actually tried, though? Like it's your job? It's fine to say that you meet the weight standard, work at a desk all day, and can't do the pushups. For me, the pull-ups would be the real challenge.

But, if it were my actual job to meet all those standards? No problem.

No I haven’t but I’m saying I could imagine that if I did train to do it (you’re right, the pull-ups would be way harder) I would need to put on significantly more muscle mass that could potentially push me into the “overweight” standard. Maybe not. I just thought that’s what the marine PP was saying but maybe I totally misinterpreted the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

DP.. muscle weighs more than fat, so they shouldn't just look at weight alone, but overall fitness.

If you look at the links, they do. There are some standard fitness requirements in there — 10 minute mile, certain number of push ups, certain number of crunches, etc.

Right, so my understanding from the marine PP is that it is hard for women to weigh below the top of the standard and be strong enough to perform the fitness requirements. Isn’t that what they were saying? Tracks for me. I’ve always been right in the middle of a “healthy” weight and cant do a single real push up.

Have you ever actually tried, though? Like it's your job? It's fine to say that you meet the weight standard, work at a desk all day, and can't do the pushups. For me, the pull-ups would be the real challenge.

But, if it were my actual job to meet all those standards? No problem.

I’m not the PP, but I think that’s right — if it was your job and you did all the physical training they’re doing, I don’t think it should be that difficult for most otherwise healthy adults to meet those standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in one of the poorest counties in Maryland in a poor large town/small city. Everyone drives to Walmart Market for their foods. It is interesting to watch the shopping habits. Morbid obesity is strong here across all races. Poor white and poor African American will load their shopping carts with everything except fruits and veggies from Walmart Market. Haitian immigrants will put fruits and veggies in their shopping carts. I think it is cultural for Haitian immigrants to buy fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies are available to poor people in this region but poor people across all races choose not to buy them.

Oh those dumb fat poors. Spending their small amounts of money on what they know tastes good and will get eaten vs vegetables which, let’s be honest, if you weren’t raised to eat (and which nutritionists have destroyed people’s eating by saying no one should eat dietary fat or add salt to) don’t taste great.

Is being obese fun? It doesn’t look like it is.

If you can’t see past the instant gratification of a donut, in order to have better health and ultimately a better life than no I don’t at all sympathize

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in one of the poorest counties in Maryland in a poor large town/small city. Everyone drives to Walmart Market for their foods. It is interesting to watch the shopping habits. Morbid obesity is strong here across all races. Poor white and poor African American will load their shopping carts with everything except fruits and veggies from Walmart Market. Haitian immigrants will put fruits and veggies in their shopping carts. I think it is cultural for Haitian immigrants to buy fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies are available to poor people in this region but poor people across all races choose not to buy them.

Oh those dumb fat poors. Spending their small amounts of money on what they know tastes good and will get eaten vs vegetables which, let’s be honest, if you weren’t raised to eat (and which nutritionists have destroyed people’s eating by saying no one should eat dietary fat or add salt to) don’t taste great.

Is being obese fun? It doesn’t look like it is.

If you can’t see past the instant gratification of a donut, in order to have better health and ultimately a better life than no I don’t at all sympathize

I’m sorry you’re so insecure. Must be hard.

(and I have a normal BMI, bike and run, so don’t bother with your predictable childish retort of “mmmkay, fattie,” accompanied by an equally childish laughing emoji)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

Interesting. I just looked up the weight charts for the Marine Corps and, assuming they’re correct, for a woman of my height I would have to be between 110 and 146 lbs. I’m well within that, and am not at all underweight (I’m 122 lbs). It’s sad that it’s difficult to find people who can fit that requirement.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/marine-corps-weight-rules.html

Assuming these physical fitness requirements are accurate, they honestly seem pretty reasonable: https://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-fitness-requirements/usmc-physical-fitness-test

DP.. muscle weighs more than fat, so they shouldn't just look at weight alone, but overall fitness.

If you look at the links, they do. There are some standard fitness requirements in there — 10 minute mile, certain number of push ups, certain number of crunches, etc.

Right, so my understanding from the marine PP is that it is hard for women to weigh below the top of the standard and be strong enough to perform the fitness requirements. Isn’t that what they were saying? Tracks for me. I’ve always been right in the middle of a “healthy” weight and cant do a single real push up.

Have you ever actually tried, though? Like it's your job? It's fine to say that you meet the weight standard, work at a desk all day, and can't do the pushups. For me, the pull-ups would be the real challenge.

But, if it were my actual job to meet all those standards? No problem.

No I haven’t but I’m saying I could imagine that if I did train to do it (you’re right, the pull-ups would be way harder) I would need to put on significantly more muscle mass that could potentially push me into the “overweight” standard. Maybe not. I just thought that’s what the marine PP was saying but maybe I totally misinterpreted the point.

For women, the muscle mass you can put on is about 30% of body weight. It would be extremely hard to do push-ups and pull-ups lifting your body weight once you are in overweight trending to obese. Female bodybuilders on average weigh about 150 for 5’7” and they have most muscle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an acitve duty Marine and I'll tell you it is a big problem in the military. Our physical fitness requirements are hard physically and demand a high ratio of muscle to fat, but it is practically impossible to have that and weigh within our standards. Most of the Marines I know who are women ride the top of their weight limit and even barely making weight, they look like supermodels compared to the women we see in the civilian world. The Marine Corps has the toughest standards and is least likely to change them, but across the board, services are going to have to look at what they can do to recruit and retain a military that is fit with the Americans we have available.

I was in the Army. The weight standards aren’t that bad, at all. I don’t recall any of my girlfriends needing to be taped ever, 10 yrs ago when weight standards were lower than now, I believe they were in the mid 140s for up to age 29. Now, even for Marines, a woman at 5’5” can weigh up to 156 lbs. That is pretty generous considering the line abs duty and should be a difficult weight to maintain if you are eating well and exercising. That is probably the equivalent to a size 10-12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in one of the poorest counties in Maryland in a poor large town/small city. Everyone drives to Walmart Market for their foods. It is interesting to watch the shopping habits. Morbid obesity is strong here across all races. Poor white and poor African American will load their shopping carts with everything except fruits and veggies from Walmart Market. Haitian immigrants will put fruits and veggies in their shopping carts. I think it is cultural for Haitian immigrants to buy fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies are available to poor people in this region but poor people across all races choose not to buy them.

Oh those dumb fat poors. Spending their small amounts of money on what they know tastes good and will get eaten vs vegetables which, let’s be honest, if you weren’t raised to eat (and which nutritionists have destroyed people’s eating by saying no one should eat dietary fat or add salt to) don’t taste great.

Is being obese fun? It doesn’t look like it is.

If you can’t see past the instant gratification of a donut, in order to have better health and ultimately a better life than no I don’t at all sympathize

Well, clearly you've never experienced depression or soul-crushing life circumstances. Congratulations.