"Specifically, we want to evaluate the accuracy of the 3-D 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 3-D scanner can provide another tool for body composition assessment that is fast, accurate and non-invasive."

Understanding and accurately measuring body composition is important for fitness and health professionals, Ryder said. Accurate body measurements are needed to assess health risks and changes in body fat, determine ideal body weight, recommend diet and exercise changes, and monitor growth, development, maturation and age-related changes in body composition.

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 National Institutes for Health.

Source: University of Missouri-Columbia