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Female Body Composition Assessment PREPARED for Heat Body Composition Study

Female Body Composition Assessment

College Ambassadors are students in the College of Arts and Sciences who represent the College at a wide variety of events, serving as liaisons between the dean’s office and the student body. A group was photographed in a studio setting in the Center for the Arts in September 2024. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki.

Why? Currently, the military uses body size to assess the amount of muscle, bone, and fat content of their soldiers. The machine used to assess body size does not currently account for changes in the body due to the menstrual cycle.  This purpose of this study is to assess the effects of the menstrual cycle on body size assessment.

Who? You may be eligible to participate if you are 18-45 years old female, healthy, physically active, and own a smart phone. Some conditions that exclude you include using a hormonal contraceptive, currently pregnant or breastfeeding, high blood pressure, taking medication or supplements with a side effect affecting hydration, or having a medical implant device.

What? This study consists of 4 visits. During Visit 1 (2.5 hours) we will inform you of all procedures involved in the study, determine your eligibility to participate, collect baseline data (heart rate, blood pressure, height, and weight), as well as determine maximal exercise capacity. Visits 2 - 4 (1 hour each) will occur after you track your menstrual cycle for two months. You will complete a hydration assessment, blood draw, and body size assessment. By participating in the study, you will be compensated up to $168.

Where? Sherman Annex on UB South Campus (Main St and Bailey Ave)

When? We try to work around your availability, generally scheduling between 7am and 5pm on weekdays.

Email Riana Pryor at RPryor@buffalo.edu

What to expect when participating in research

Participation Study Duration Results Compensation More

Who can participate?

Each study has its own set of criteria of who can participate, depending on the specific research question.  In general, most of our studies are looking for participants who are generally healthy and willing to come to our laboratory and exercise or rest in different environments. Please email Dr. Riana Pryor (rpryor@buffalo.edu) to determine if you are eligible to participate in our studies.

Do you qualify for our studies?

We're happy to answer questions about our participation in our studies, student hands-on research and learning opportunities, and the implementation of health and safety prevention and intervention strategies in physically active populations. Email Riana Pryor at RPryor@buffalo.edu.