THE ARMY WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM Army Regulation 600–9
Table of Contents Ch. 1: Introduction Ch. 2: Responsibilities   Ch. 3: Proper Weight Control Table List Figure List	Introduction   Summary of Change   Appendixes Glossary
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4. Health care personnel will perform a medical evaluation when a Soldier has a medical limitation, is pregnant, or when requested by the unit commander. A medical evaluation is also required for Soldiers being considered for separation because of a failure to make satisfactory progress in the AWCP, or within 6 months of ETS. Aircraft crewmembers who exceed the body fat standards will be referred to a flight surgeon for possible impact on flight status. The medical professional will—
   1. Conduct a thorough medical evaluation to rule out any underlying medical condition (for example, a metabolic disorder) that may be a cause for significant weight gain. If an underlying medical condition cannot be controlled with medication or other medical treatment, the medical professional will refer the Soldier to a medical evaluation board (MEB).
   2. Prepare any profile associated with the underlying diagnosis in accordance with AR 40-501, chapter 7. Temporary or permanent profiles will not be granted to exempt Soldiers from the requirement to meet body fat standards; therefore, such profiles will be deemed invalid.
   3. Complete a memorandum to the Soldier’s unit commander.
   4. The sample correspondence shown in figure 3–1 will be completed and retained by the unit commander or supervisor to properly document recommendations and actions taken in each case. The use of certain medications to treat an underlying medical disorder or the inability to perform all aerobic events may contribute to weight gain but are not considered sufficient justification for noncompliance with this regulation. If an individual’s weight condition, as diagnosed by medical authorities, results from an underlying or associated disease process, health care personnel will take one of the following actions:
      (a) Prescribe treatment to alleviate the condition and return the Soldier to the unit. A physician must note the approximate amount of time treatment is needed before the Soldier can be continued in the AWCP. For instance, a Soldier who is medicated for an underactive thyroid gland may need 3 months before the medication enables the Soldier to begin to lose weight at the same rate as an individual with a normal functioning thyroid gland. This is not a permanent exemption from this regulation. Soldiers will not be permanently exempt because of chronic medical conditions.
      (b) Hospitalize Active Army personnel for necessary treatment.
      (c) Refer Reserve Component personnel to their personal physicians (at an individual’s expense) for further evaluation or treatment.
      (d) Provide personalized nutritional and exercise counseling based on medical diagnosis.
      (e) Determine whether an individual’s condition is medically disqualifying for continued service. If the Soldier does not meet medical retention standards of AR 40-501, chapter 3, the Soldier will be referred to an MEB/physical evaluation board (PEB).
5. If the underlying medical condition does not require referral to an MEB/PEB and a Soldier is classified as overweight, these facts will be documented and the Soldier will be entered into the AWCP except as described in paragraph 3–2b. Commanders will initiate suspension of favorable personnel actions under AR 600–8–2.
   1. The required weight loss goal of 3 to 8 pounds per month is considered a safely attainable goal to enable Soldiers to lose excess body fat and meet the body fat standards described in paragraph 3–1c. Weigh-ins will be made by unit personnel monthly (or during unit assemblies for ARNG and USAR personnel) to measure progress. A body fat evaluation may also be done by unit personnel to assist in measuring progress.
   2. As an exception to paragraph 3–2g, an individual who has not made satisfactory progress after any two consecutive monthly weigh-ins may be referred by the commander or supervisor to health care personnel for evaluation or reevaluation. If health care personnel are unable to determine a medical reason for lack of weight loss—and if the individual is not in compliance with the body fat standards at paragraph 3–1c and still exceeds the screening table weight (table 3–1)—the commander or supervisor will inform the individual that—
      (a) Progress is unsatisfactory.
      (b) He or she is subject to separation as specified in paragraph 3–2j.
6. Commanders and supervisors will remove individuals administratively from a weight control program as soon as the body fat standard is achieved. The screening table weight will not be used to remove Soldiers from a weight control program. The removal action will be documented as shown in figure 3–1; removal of suspension of favorable personnel actions will be accomplished at that time.
7. After a period of dieting and/or exercise for 6 months and except as described in paragraph 3–2b, Soldiers who have not made satisfactory progress and who still exceed the screening table and body fat standards will be processed as follows:
   1. If health care personnel determine that the condition is due to an underlying or associated disease process, action described in paragraph 3–2d will be taken.
   2. The unit commander will initiate a mandatory bar to reenlistment or administrative separation proceeding for

Chapter 3:   3-2 Continued

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