U.S. military personnel are required to adhere to certain standards of body composition, fitness, and appearance so that they are ready for deployment at a moment's notice. In 1992, the Committee on Military Nutrition Research reviewed the existing standards and found that the appearance standards for women's body composition conflict with other standards that ensure women's ability to perform various types of military tasks.
Assessing Readiness in Military Women addresses this conflict. Further, it reviews and makes recommendations about current policies governing body composition and fitness, post-partum return-to-duty standards, Military Recommended Dietary Allowances, physical activity, and nutritional practices.