Welcome to the University of Limerick Body Composition Study
The University of Limerick Body Composition Study is a unique study that aims to examine the body composition of the adult population based around the University of Limerick Community. The study will recruit up to 2000 males and females across the lifespan to take part in the study.
The human body is composed of four components: bone, lean body tissue, fat body tissue and body water. Added together these components determine human body weight. Probably because of advances in general nutrition and health the human population is getting taller and heavier. This is reflected in the most commonly used metric, the body mass index or BMI. BMI is the ratio of body mass to height2. The BMI of the human population has been steadily increasing raising concerns as to the risk of ill-health. However, as a weight-based index, BMI cannot provide information on change in the four components of body composition and therefore the associated risk to ill-health. The patterning of change in lean, fat and bone tissue over the lifetime of a person is more important than the change in BMI.
The University of Limerick Body Composition Study will provide a reference point for adult human body composition early in the 21st century. The data will contribute to the National Observatory and the World Health Organisation. The information gathered will be available to researchers, health professionals, public health officers and allied professions. The results will also be disseminated in a variety of formats to the general public. The outcomes of the study will inform policy and practice amongst the HSE and related agencies. It is timely at the beginning of the 21st century to have this information and be able to act upon it. The ultimate value of the study is dependent on the ability to follow trends in the adult human body composition in current and future generations. We are actively seeking long-term funding to realise the future value of the study.
This website will provide you with information on what the study involves if you choose to participate, who the researchers are, how to volunteer for the study, the steps you need to take prior to measurements being taken, and how you can arrange to discuss your results with a member from the project team.
We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you.
Follow UL on...
