Michael C. Slack’s research while affiliated with Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and other places

It is apparent that per cent body fat is poorly correlated with aerobic exercise performance. This is especially evident in the potentially large group of moderate exercisers which would have the greatest impact on military fitness programs. When employing a measure of performance and aerobic fitness, predictive methods such as the 1.5 mile or twelve minute run, demonstrate strong correlations across all groups. These methods, therefore, appear much better predictors statistically and should prove more useful. There is no substitute for direct aerobic performance testing in the evaluation of physical fitness.