We are currently recruiting participants for an upcoming research study to be conducted at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC). Over the past 3 years, researchers within the Human Morphology lab at the AWRC have developed new methods for extracting additional information about variations in human body shape from 3D imaging data, which surpass traditional measures such as BMI. In the next phase of our research, we plan to use our new shape measures to investigate the relationships between external body shape and internal body composition, with the intention of creating a more sensitive method of assessing health risk at population level.
As a first step, we are conducting an initial proof of concept study to collect data from a small cohort using the following methods: 3D body scanning; bioelectrical impedance analysis; and whole-body air displacement plethysmography (BODPOD). Due to the short timescales of this project, we are only looking to recruit male participants aged between 35 and 55 years at this time. This study is a first step, with the next stage will be conduct a large-scale study with a more diverse participant population, stratified by sex, age and ethnicity. For this study, you will only need to attend a single data collection session, which will take approximately one hour to complete. Following testing, if you wish you will receive your test results, which will help you better understand your body shape and composition. In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, several mitigating interventions have put in place to ensure social distancing is maintained and all equipment is disinfected before and after each participant during data collection. Our protocol doesn’t involve any human contact and numbers of people in the lab will be strictly controlled to minimise any potential risks as much as possible.
For further information about the study and what is involved, please read the attached full Participant Information Sheet. Please read this information sheet carefully and feel free to get in touch about anything that is unclear, or you want to know more about.
Contact details
Mike Thelwell: m.thelwell@shu.ac.uk
