BOD POD:

Get the details the scale can't provide! At the CHAMP Center, our quick, non-invasive BodPod assessment measures your lean mass and body fat% with precision so you can work towards your goals with confidence and clarity!

BodPod: What It Is

The BodPod is a quick, non-invasive, and highly accurate method for assessing body composition using Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP). By measuring your body volume and combining it with your body weight, the BodPod calculates body density to determine lean mass and body fat percentage. A BodPod assessment reveals:

Body fat percentage
Fat free mass
Total body mass

The test is completely non-invasive, painless, and comfortable. Participants sit inside an egg-shaped chamber wearing minimal, form-fitting clothing, and a Lycra hair cap. The test is quick and typically takes 5–10 minutes. The BodPod is suitable for all ages, fitness levels, and body types, including children, pregnancy/postpartum populations, and other special populations. It’s becoming recognized as the ‘practical’ gold standard for body composition, as it can be repeated as often as needed without the waiting period that a DEXA scan requires.

At the CHAMP Center, we use the BOD POD® GS-X system from COSMED. Our BodPod system and software are trusted by leading research centers, the NFL, and the military. Testing with the CHAMP Center always gives you access to professional-grade equipment and expert administration, ensuring your results are accurate, reliable, and top-of-the-line.

BodPod: Why It's Important

Numbers With Value

Body composition provides far more meaningful information than body weight alone. The BodPod offers precise, research-grade measurements of fat free mass, body fat percentage, and total body mass, helping you understand how your body is truly changing over time.

Knowing your body composition is critical because it:

Tracks progress accurately from training and nutrition programs, beyond what the scale shows
Guides performance optimization by revealing body fat% and fat free mass
Supports health decisions, including metabolic health, weight management, nutrition planning, and long-term wellness

While there are other methods at local gyms that can estimate body composition, none match the combination of speed, comfort, and accuracy provided by the BodPod. It’s an essential tool for anyone looking to train smarter, monitor results, and make data-driven decisions about their body.

BodPod: Who Should Do It

The BodPod is ideal for anyone who wants fast, accurate, and actionable insight into their body composition. This includes:

Tracking fitness or weight loss progress: See changes in fat free mass and body fat% over time to know what’s working in your training & nutrition programs.
Athletes and performance-focused individuals: Understand body composition distribution to optimize strength, endurance, and recovery.
Special populations: Safe and non-invasive for children, pregnancy/postpartum individuals, seniors, and those with mobility limitations.
Those seeking regular monitoring: The BodPod can be repeated as often as needed, making it a practical tool for ongoing assessment and adjustments.

BodPod Interpreting Results

Here’s what your results will reveal and what each metric means:

1. Fat Free Percentage & Mass (Water, Muscle Tissue & BMD)

Lean mass includes water, muscle, bone, and organs (anything that is not fat). Tracking fat free mass changes over time is key for understanding strength development, performance, and healthy aging.

2. Body Fat Percentage & Mass

Shows your total body fat mass and percentage. This helps determine whether you’re in a healthy range and whether your training or nutrition plan is moving you in the right direction.

Average* ranges for healthy adults are:

Men: 18–24%
Women: 25–31%

*Average ranges vary based on age, activity level, ethnicity, and health status

3. Fat Mass Index (FMI)

Fat Mass Index (FMI) is similar to Body Mass Index (BMI) in that it provides a value relative to height to estimate overweight/obesity risk. However, FMI is a better predictor of health risk, because it focuses specifically on fat mass, not total body weight.

Example: Two females are both 75 kg and 64" (1.63 m) tall. Calculating for just BMI would classify both as overweight (BMI: 28.2 kg/m²), but if we take into account Fat mass:

Female A: Fat mass = 23 kg → 8.7 kg/m²

Female B: Fat mass = 35 kg → 13.2 kg/m²

Then only Female B would be considered overweight.

Normal ranges you want your FMI to fall between for men and women are listed below:

Men: 3-6 kg/m²

Women: 5-9 kg/m²

The BodPod results sheet does not directly calculate Fat Mass Index (FMI), but our staff can use your BodPod measurements to determine your FMI if desired.