Concordia University, Nebraska’s, department of health and human performance has advanced greatly with their addition of the BOD POD Body Composition Analyzing System to their lengthening list of equipment.
Nolan Harms, chair and assistant professor of the health and human performance department, calls it “an easy turn-key system with little to no discomfort. You simply sit in the capsule for 5-7 minutes and it’ll tell you your composition.”
The BOD POD is described as the gold standard in body composition testing. Similar to systems that weigh one’s displacement underwater, the BOD POD uses air displacement plethysmography to determine the body’s density and calculate its composition of fat and fat-free mass. Other measurements possible with the system include estimates of resting metabolic rate and total energy expenditure. Such information is useful in the development of an overall health plan, including diet and exercise.
“The BOD POD allows us to remain on the cutting edge from the standpoint of human performance lab equipment,” Harms said. “We’re very blessed to have this system. Concordia has one of the best athletics departments for our area and size with these resources.”
Though the system was just acquired in August, it is already being used in several exercise science courses, including a course in strength training and conditioning which recently had six of its students tested. Future plans include opportunities for Concordia students, staff, and athletic teams, and members of the Seward community to be tested in the BOD POD. “The future is exciting,” Harms said.
