New technology enhances HAWC mission success

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  For those in the base community with concerns or curiosities regarding body composition, the Health and Wellness Center has a new machine that can accurately gauge how much fat is available to be trimmed.

The HAWC's latest edition, the BOD POD, uses the concept of air displacement to measure body fat percentage. The machine can also measure the body's resting metabolic rate.

The BOD POD made its debut on D-M in October 2010.

"The BOD POD works on the same principle as the old-fashioned dunk tank where we would put someone in water, measure how much they weigh, measure how much water they displaced from the tank and use that to predict body fat percentage," said Guy Leahy, an exercise physiologist at the HAWC. "With the BOD POD, we place somebody in the pod and we measure how much air their body displaces from the pod. The machine uses the information to predict body fat percentage. It's very accurate, with a two- to three-percent margin of error."

Acquiring this modern piece of technology gives the HAWC staff an edge when it comes to conducting their mission.

"We frequently have people in our classes who think they are more muscular or less fat than they actually are," Mr. Leahy said. "Putting them into the pod gives us the information on whether they actually are or not and gives the client accurate information. We've had people in the pod before who have been both positively and negatively surprised at the results."

The BOD POD, valued at approximately $35,000, is rapidly becoming the tool of choice throughout Air Combat Command.

"All HAWC's within ACC will have one of these," Mr. Leahy said. "It is intended to be something that's being used within the entire community to really give people an idea of what their body composition actually is."

The pod replaces the HAWC's previous method of using skin fold calipers to predict body fat percentage.

The advantages of the BOD POD shine through for Airmen in particular, as the "Fit to Fight" culture has prompted more focus on overall physical health and fitness.

"Excess body fat leads to reductions in performance," Mr. Leahy said. "Since fitness tests are now part of performance reports, this becomes more important. Also we know that people who have excess body fat are more likely to suffer injuries than people who don't and it has impacts on mission readiness."

Airman 1st Class Michael Washburn, a journalist for the 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office, recently took the BOD POD for a test run and quickly saw the advantages of using the pod.

"Some of these numbers are a little surprising, but they're pretty much where I thought they would be," Airman Washburn said. "I would recommend that people on this base come use the BOD POD to find out more information about their body. It's a great tool to measure how in shape you are and how much body fat you have - information a normal scale just doesn't give you."

The HAWC offers to put "bods in the pod" every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants must wear clothing that doesn't trap air, such as compression shorts or a swimsuit, and a swim cap to ensure an accurate reading from the pod. To schedule an appointment at the HAWC, call 228-2294.