weight min & max

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oneandfive

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Apr 2, 2008
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Good morning!

I have been reading a lot of material lately, and one of the things I've noticed is that it is not uncommon for Plebes to lose weight over Plebe Summer. For some people this is not a big issue but for others that are already quite thin, it can be a problem. Basically, I have two questions. 1) Where can I find the USNA height/weight standards (including minimums not just maximums). and 2) Will it give the Plebe an official medical issue if they are found too underweight?:confused:
 
Here is a link that will take you to the height/weight chart (I hope):

http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/steps7.htm

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll see an Adobe link for the catalog and the medical disqualifying conditions. Go to page 163 (page 10/13 in the link) and you'll find the chart. As with anything medical, waivers are possible. They also note that, if you exceed the max weight, they'll look at body fat.

I've never heard of anyone having serious medical issues for being underweight. Most plebes gain back the weight they lost plebe summer -- and then some -- during Ac Year or in later years. In general, people who don't have eating disorders or some other medical condition that causes them to be abnormally underweight, are fine -- to the best of my knowledge.
 
usna1985 said:
I've never heard of anyone having serious medical issues for being underweight.
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Me neither.

Most plebes gain back the weight they lost plebe summer -- and then some -- during Ac Year or in later years.
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Oy! You ain't kidding! :frown:

Went from 220 to 169 in five weeks during Plebe Summer. Ended up graduating around 230. I'm now 270. :frown:

One thing I remember from back in the day was certain Mids requesting and receiving a supplement called "Sustacal", which was a meal supplement in chocolate-shake form. It was given to Mids who wanted to gain weight. Sigh.... I wish I had problems like that. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the weight chart. I'm not worried about medical issues because of losing weight during Plebe Summer, only that USNA would look unfavorably on this. As it is now, my daughter is 5 pounds more than the minimum for her height. She is a long distance runner and eats like a horse but burns every calorie she takes in. I know that if she doesn't meet the weight standards on I-Day she could be sent home, but how does it work during the summer and academic year. I can see her dropping weight because of the lack of time to eat and extra physical activity.
 
You may want to ask RetNavyHM this question, either in the DODMERB Forum or via PM. If anyone can give the DODMERB perspective on this, it's him.

As for weight issues once you are in, I honestly don't recall ever having heard of someone being put on a gimp squad for being underweight. Let's face it, all they have to do is pump them full of more calories. If she's thin because she exercises and is blessed with a strong metabolism, I can't see a problem.

If someone can correct me, by all means do so, but that's my take based on what I remember seeing.
 
Becoming underweight while at the academy, as long as there are no eating or medical disorders involved will not be an issue. She may have to sit with a nutritionist and be given a special diet to pack a couple of pounds on, but she will not be sent home if she looses a couple of pounds.

As a caveat to that, if she looses so much that she becomes unhealthy then that would be different.
 
RetNavyHM said:
Becoming underweight while at the academy, as long as there are no eating or medical disorders involved will not be an issue. She may have to sit with a nutritionist and be given a special diet to pack a couple of pounds on, but she will not be sent home if she looses a couple of pounds.

As a caveat to that, if she looses so much that she becomes unhealthy then that would be different.
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There are no disorders, just thin and loves to run. During cross country season I usually give her 2 protien bars and an Ensure a day in addition to her regular meals to help her maintain her weight. I know that usna1985 mentioned that he/she had seen some mids drinking some supplemental drinks when at the academy so hopefully this is still an option.

I guess I just wanted to make sure she wouldn't get some kind of disqualification during Plebe Summer if she went a little under the minimums because of all the extra physical exercise. She is strong and can do anything she puts her mind to. In her case, size has nothing to do with it. She is as tough as nails and will be great team player this summer while totally embracing the challenge!:w00t:

Thanks for the good info!
 
Other than I-Day, I don't recall any weigh-ins during plebe summer or even Ac Year unless you needed to go to medical for some reason. Basically, as long as you looked healthy (and not seriously over or underweight) they left you alone. However, in all honesty, things could be different now.
 
Currently, we have weigh-ins at least once during plebe summer, and once each semester during the Academic Year. However, it's really just a check to make sure mids are within body fat and weight standards, and I've never heard of anyone being underweight. Everyone who lost weight during plebe summer put it back on come Academic Year, so I wouldn't worry.
 
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