Personal Fitness Merit Badge Pamphlet Personal Fitness Merit Badge

Personal Fitness

Requirements were REVISED effective January 1, 2012.

To see the changes which were made, Click here.

For the previous requirements, Click here

For the current requirements, Click here.

This Merit Badge is Required
to earn the Eagle Scout Rank

We have been informed of an editorial error in the pamphlet, regarding the Strength Tests the Scout must do in requirements 6 and 8. In the text of the pamphlet, and in the current edition of Boy Scout Requirements, the Scout is told to record his performance on all three tests (Sit-ups, Push-ups, and Pull-ups). This was a change made in 2006/2007. In the table on page 72 of the black and white (33286B) pamphlet, and the same table in the color (35927) edition, the table was not changed to reflect the changed requirement, and the Scout is incorrectly directed to do the Sit-ups and either Push-ups or Pull-ups.

For requirement 1 you can click on the following link to get a copy of the New, Simplified Annual Health and Medical Record
The new form has replaced all previous versions and the former Class 1, 2, and 3 Personal Health and Medical Record Forms.
 It is designed to be filled in and saved on your local computer and then printed out on 8 1/2" x 11" sheets.
Click Here to download the Annual Health and Medical Record Form
NOTE: If meeting any of the requirements for this merit badge is against the Scout's religious convictions, the requirement does not have to be done if the Scout's parents and the proper religious advisers state in writing that to do so would be against religious convictions. The Scout's parents must also accept full responsibility for anything that might happen because of this exemption.
  1. Do the following:
    1. Before completing requirements 2 through 9, have your health-care practitioner give you a physical examination, using the Scout medical examination form. Describe the examination. Tell what questions the doctor asked about your health. Tell what health or medical recommendations the doctor made and report what you have done in response to the recommendations. Explain the following:
      1. Why physical exams are important
      2. Why preventive habits (such as exercising regularly) are important in maintaining good health, and how the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and other harmful substances can negatively affect our personal fitness.
      3. Diseases that can be prevented and how.
      4. The seven warning signs of cancer.
      5. The youth risk factors that affect cardiovascular fitness in adulthood.
    2. Have a dental examination . Get a statement saying that your teeth have been checked and cared for. Tell how to care for your teeth.
  2. Explain to your merit badge counselor verbally or in writing what personal fitness means to you, including:
    1. Components of personal fitness
    2. Reasons for being fit in all components.
    3. What it means to be mentally healthy
    4. What it means to be physically healthy and fit.
    5. What it means to be socially healthy. Discuss your activity in the areas of healthy social fitness.
    6. What you can do to prevent social, emotional, or mental problems.
  3. With your counselor answer and discuss the following questions:
    1. Are you free from all curable diseases? Are you living in such a way that your risk of preventable diseases is minimized?
    2. Are you immunized and vaccinated according to the advice of your health-care provider?
    3. Do you understand the meaning of a nutritious diet and know why it is important for you? Does your diet include foods from all food groups?
    4. Are your body weight and composition what you would like them to be, and do you know how to modify them safely through exercise, diet, and behavior modification?
    5. Do you carry out daily activities without noticeable effort? Do you have extra energy for other activities?
    6. Are you free from habits relating to poor nutrition and the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other practices that could be harmful to your health?
    7. Do you participate in a regular exercise program or recreational activities?
    8. Do you sleep well at night and wake up feeling refreshed and energized for the new day?
    9. Are you actively involved in the religious organization of your choice, and do you participate in its youth activities?
    10. Do you spend quality time with your family and friends in social and recreational activities?
    11. Do you support family activities and efforts to maintain a good home life?
  4. Explain the following about physical fitness:
    1. The components of physical fitness
    2. Your weakest and strongest component of physical fitness
    3. The need to have a balance in all four components of physical fitness.
    4. How the components of personal fitness relate to the Scout Law and Scout Oath.
  5. Explain the following about nutrition:
    1. The importance of good nutrition
    2. What good nutrition means to you
    3. How good nutrition is related to the other components of personal fitness
    4. The three components of a sound weight (fat) control program.
  6. Before doing requirements 7 and 8, complete the aerobic fitness, flexibility, muscular strength, and body composition tests as described in the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet. Record your results and identify those areas where you feel you need to improve.
    • Aerobic Fitness Test
      Record your performance on one of the following tests:
      1. Run/walk as far as you can in nine minutes
        OR
      2. Run/walk one mile as fast as you can
    • Flexibility Test
      Using a sit-and-reach box constructed according to specifications in this merit badge pamphlet, make four repetitions and record the fourth reach. This last reach must be held steady for 15 seconds to qualify. (Remember to keep your knees down.)

      Click here to see how to build a Sit and Reach Box.

      Note: Although the illustration shows dimensions for constructing the reach box in inches, the requirement table in the pamphlet stipulates measuring the Scout's reach in centimeters (cm). Either attach a tape measure calibrated in both inches and cm, or mark the top panel in cm. The measuring scale should extend from 0 at the front edge of top panel to 53 cm at a point 0.34 cm before the back edge. That should place the 23 cm point 0.14 cm behind the face of the foot panel.

    •  Strength Tests
      Record your performance on all three tests.
    • Body Composition Test
      Have your parent, counselor, or other adult take and record the following measurements:
      • Circumference of the right upper arm, midway between the shoulder and the elbow, with the arm hanging naturally and not flexed.
      • Shoulders, with arms hanging by placing the tape two inches below the top of the shoulders around the arms, chest, and back after breath expiration.
      • Chest, by placing the tape under the arms and around the chest and back at the nipple line after breath expiration.
      • Abdomen circumference at the navel level (relaxed).
      • Circumference of the right thigh, midway between the hip and knee, and not flexed.

      If possible, have the same person take the measurements whenever you are ready to be remeasured to chart your progress. .

  7. Outline a comprehensive 12-week physical fitness program using the results of your fitness tests. Be sure your program incorporates the endurance, intensity, and warm-up guidelines discussed in the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet. Before beginning your exercises, have the program approved by your counselor and parents.
  8. Complete the physical fitness program you outlined in requirement 7. Complete the physical fitness program you outlined in requirement 7. Keep a log of your fitness program activity (how long you exercised; how far you ran, swam, or biked; how many exercise repetitions you completed; your exercise heart rate; etc.). Repeat the aerobic fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility tests every two weeks and record your results. After the 12th week, repeat the three tests, record your results, and show improvement in each one. For the body composition test, compare and analyze your preprogram and postprogram body composition measurements. Discuss the meaning and benefit of your experience, and describe your long-term plans regarding your personal fitness.
  9. Find out about three career opportunities in personal fitness. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

BSA Advancement ID#: 10
Requirements last updated in: 2010
Pamphlet Publication Number: 35927
Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 35927
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2006

Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: Format
Word Format PDF Format

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.

Page updated on: May 08, 2022

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