Researchers at the University of Missouri are comparing measurement techniques to determine the most efficient and cost-effective method of measuring body composition - the amount of fatty tissue, muscle tissue and bone present in the body.

Steve Ball, associate professor of exercise physiology at the university's College of Human Environmental Sciences, said: "There are several field and laboratory techniques for measuring body composition, but few are accurate, comfortable, non-invasive and do not require a highly trained technician.

“The most accurate laboratory techniques are expensive, time-consuming and aren’t accessible to many health practitioners and trainers. Methods that are inexpensive and easily available, such as skinfold testing, body mass index and bioelectrical impedance, aren’t the most accurate.”

Two of the most effective laboratory methods for assessing body composition are dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which is considered the ‘gold standard’; and the Bod Pod, which measures air displacement and body volume. The 3D body scanner, originally developed to measure clothing sizes, is a new method that might be a more cost-effective system to measure body fatness.

“Specifically, we want to evaluate the accuracy of the 3D body scanner by comparing it to DXA and the Bod Pod,” said Justin Ryder, a graduate student researcher in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. “The goal is to determine if the 3D scanner can provide another tool for body composition assessment that is fast, accurate and non-invasive.”

The results would benefit health professionals and individuals who are at risk for certain health issues, including heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, conditions that are two to three times more prevalent in obese individuals, according to the US National Institute for Health.