Three faculty members from the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences will publish an article titled “A Comparison of Different Body Composition Techniques,” in the Missouri Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Donna Terbizan, Yeong Rhee and Sherri Stastny conducted research with seniors who are majoring in health, nutrition and exercise sciences. Students participated in multiple types of body composition measurement techniques.

“We predicted body fat percentage using techniques that included hydrostatic (water displacement) weighing, 3- and 7-site skinfold measurements, leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance measurement and a body mass index percent fat prediction,” Terbizan said. “We found that all of the predictions were significantly the same, with the exception of using the body mass index percentage prediction. So, one could use hydrostatic weighing, skinfold measurements and bioelectric impedance predictions of body composition with the population interchangeably.”

The researchers said the study also helped educate the students about different ways to measure body composition, including estimated percentage of body fat. The article is expected to be published this year.