UK Performance Nutrition and Body Composition Lab Opens to the Public
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 30, 2021) — Kentuckians can get a better understanding of their health through the Performance Nutrition and Body Composition Lab in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
The Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition recently opened its research-grade lab to the public. The facility includes a Bod Pod, which evaluates body composition for lean muscle mass and body fat, and a Quark Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) system that measures the number of calories a person burns while at rest.
“We want to provide Kentuckians with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of some important health metrics,” said Tammy Stephenson, department chair. “Having a higher percentage of body fat, and less lean body mass, can increase a person’s risk for chronic health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.”
Department faculty and graduate students oversee the lab’s activities, and UK professors will continue to operate the lab for research purposes.
Individuals may schedule an appointment on the lab’s website. Bod Pod testing takes less than 10 minutes and RMR testing takes 30-45 minutes. Clients receive test results at the time of their appointment. Clients can then view videos created by department faculty, who are registered dietitian nutritionists, on the lab's website. These videos explain more about the tests and provide additional information about interpreting test results.
Discounts are available to UK faculty, staff and students and for all participants wishing to do both evaluations. Evening, weekend, early morning and daytime appointments are available on the lab’s website: https://performancenutritionlab.ca.uky.edu/. The lab has a free parking spot outside of the Funkhouser Building on UK’s campus for its clients’ convenience.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.