Bod Pod and Pea Pod

Developed by Life Measurements Instruments, Concord, CA, the Bod Pod is a complete system for measuring fat and lean body mass using patented air displacement technology. Bod Pod was created with the help of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. The Bod Pod was introduced at the University of California at Davis and the Plourde Institute of Chicago in 1994, and since then, it has received much attention.

The Bod Pod is based on the same whole-body measurement principle as the hydrostatic weighing tank. The volume of air a person displaces is measured instead of how much water the body displaces when dunked in a tank. The Bod Pod can give results in about 5 minutes and can accommodate children, the elderly, and the disabled. It is safe and noninvasive. Also, no special technician license is required to use the Bod Pod, so it is easy to use for both subject and operator.

The Bod Pod has about a 3-percent error, making it very reliable. Advantages of a Bod Pod include its ease of use, fast measurement, and accommodation of multiple populations. Disadvantages include its price, which can range from $30,000 to $40,000.

The Bod Pod works by measuring the volume of air a person's body displaces while sitting inside. First, the Bod Pod measures the subject's mass and volume and then whole-body density is determined. Using the person's displaced air volume and whole-body density, the Bod Pod can then calculate fat and lean mass.

The Bod Pod's structure consists of a dual chambered, fiberglass plethysmograph. The front of the Bod Pod is the main test chamber, which contains a seat. The door is secured by a series of magnets. The front of the Bod Pod has a large acrylic window, which provides the subject with a field of view.

From the original Bod Pod, the Bod Pod S/T has also been developed to use specifically in health clubs. The main difference is that an individual can either use an operator or do the test him-/herself. The Bod Pod S/T has an easy-to-use audio and kiosk screen that prompts the user/operator through the entire process.

Similar to the Bod Pod, the Pea Pod is a device also developed by Life Measurements Instruments. The NIH awarded Life Measurements Instruments with additional funding and an infant version of the Bod Pod was introduced in 2004. It measures an infant's body composition. The Pea Pod uses body composition instead of length and weight measurements and gives researchers and clinicians a better understanding of an infant's growth and nutritional status. The Pea Pod is a reliable body composition device that helps provide vital information necessary to assess [Page 86]the efficacy of diet and medical interventions, especially in low birth-weight infants. The Pea Pod uses the same technology as the Bod Pod of measuring air displacement. It is also fast with results in about 5 minutes. It is safe and noninvasive. Also, this device can accommodate most infant behaviors, such as constant wiggling and stretching.