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Shepherd Research Lab

Body Composition Research

These studies look at fat, lean, and bone tissue to quantify how aspects of body shape exhibit risk of diseases such as cancers and obesity. We also study how the development and a person’s environment may affect their body. Click the links to learn more.

Ongoing Projects

  • Shape Up! Studies

    Shape Up! Studies explore and develop ways to measure health and body composition from 2D and 3D images, which can then provide useful and detailed information about various health and wellness risks. The research relies on information gathered from subjects. If you’d like to participate, visit the site to learn more!

  • Deep Learning and Total Body DXA Scans (The TBDXA.I. Project)

    Deep Learning and Total Body DXA Scans (The TBDXA.I. Project)

    Overview Deep Learning trains neural networks on large datasets, including images, to generate algorithms that predict endpoints. Total Body DXA scans contain digital information about body composition (fat, bone, lean… Read More »Deep Learning and Total Body DXA Scans (The TBDXA.I. Project)


  • Space-Feasible Body Composition and Body Shape Analysis for Long Duration Missions (Astro3DO)

    Space-Feasible Body Composition and Body Shape Analysis for Long Duration Missions (Astro3DO)

    Overview Long-duration space flights and extraterrestrial colonizing magnify physiology challenges for the voyagers involved, including debilitating loss of muscle and bone mass. The musculoskeletal changes are primarily from acclimation to… Read More »Space-Feasible Body Composition and Body Shape Analysis for Long Duration Missions (Astro3DO)


Completed Projects

  • Samsung Bioimpedance System Evaluation Study

    Samsung Bioimpedance System Evaluation Study

    Overview Bioimpedance analysis systems are rapidly evolving and are now increasingly being used in research, clinical, and home settings (1). The novel Samsung BIA devices operate through a wrist-worn watch… Read More »Samsung Bioimpedance System Evaluation Study


  • Da Kine Body Composition Study

    Da Kine Body Composition Study

    Overview Hydration status and total body water (TBW) in humans may vary in special populations such as athletes and age groups. This variability may lead to inaccurate body composition measurements… Read More »Da Kine Body Composition Study


Latest publications related to body composition:

1.
Tian IY, Wong MC, Nguyen WM, Kennedy S, McCarthy C, Kelly NN, et al. Automated body composition estimation from device-agnostic 3D optical scans in pediatric populations. Clinical Nutrition [Internet]. 2023 Sep 1;42(9):1619–30. Cite
1.
Wong MC, Bennett JP, Quon B, Leong LT, Tian IY, Liu YE, et al. Accuracy and Precision of 3D Optical Imaging for Body Composition by Age, BMI, and Ethnicity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [Internet]. 2023 Jul 19; Cite
1.
McCarthy C, Tinsley GM, Yang S, Irving BA, Wong MC, Bennett JP, et al. Smartphone Prediction of Skeletal Muscle Mass: Model Development and Validation in Adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [Internet]. 2023 Feb 8; Cite
1.
Wong MC, Bennett JP, Leong LT, Tian IY, Liu YE, Kelly NN, et al. Monitoring Body Composition Change for Intervention Studies with Advancing 3D Optical Imaging Technology in Comparison to Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [Internet]. 2023; Cite
1.
McCarthy, C., Schoeller, D., Brown, J. C., Gonzalez, M. C., Varanoske, A. N., Cataldi, D., et al. D(3) -creatine dilution for skeletal muscle mass measurement: historical development and current status. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle [Internet]. 2022 Sep 5; Cite
1.
Tian I, Wong M, Kennedy S, Kelly N, Liu E, Garber A, et al. A Device-Agnostic Shape Model for Automated Body Composition Estimates from 3D Optical Scans. Medical Physics [Internet]. 2022 Jul 15; Cite
1.
Cataldi D, Bennett JP, Leong LT, Liu YE, Kelly NN, Shepherd JA. Muscular Function and Strength Predictions Using DXA. Oral Presentation presented at: International Workshop on Quantitative Musculoskeletal Imaging; 2022 Jun 13; Noordwijk, Netherlands. Cite
1.
Cataldi D, Bennett JP, Quon BK, Liu YE, Heymsfield SB, Kelly T, et al. Agreement and Precision of Deuterium Dilution for Total Body Water and Multicompartment Body Composition Assesment in Collegiate Athletes. The Journal of Nutrition [Internet]. 2022 Jun 6; Cite
1.
Leong L. Modular artificial intelligence models for body composition research. Poster presented at: 2022 Biomedical Sciences & Health Disparities Symposium; 2022 Apr 7; Honolulu, HI. Cite Download
1.
Wong MC. Evaluation of Body Shape as a Space-Feasible Body Composition Assessment. Poster presented at: 2022 Biomedical Sciences & Health Disparities Symposium; 2022 Apr 7; Honolulu, HI. Cite Download

View more publications on our Publication page.