BodyMedia(R) Featured in 10 Abstracts at American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting

PITTSBURGH, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 57th Annual American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Meeting, this week (June 1-5, 2010) in Baltimore, MD, ten studies presented results suggesting the validity and benefits of BodyMedia's activity monitoring technology for a variety of conditions, including tracking weight loss in adults, measuring physical activity in various populations, and even monitoring of high altitude trekkers in Italy.  The meeting connects researchers and experts in the fields of exercise science, medicine, public health, and health and fitness sports performance; it is held in conjunction with the World Congress on Exercise is Medicine™ which will focus on the benefits of physical activity in disease prevention and health promotion.  BodyMedia's positive and measurable outcomes in these studies serve as a testament to the patented multisensory technologies for a variety of markets – consumers, health and fitness clubs, corporate wellness programs, and healthcare practitioners.  A few of the highlights from the ACSM conference are listed below:

Christine Dutton of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Health and Physical Activity, headed by Dr. John Jakicic, presented a National Institute of Health-sponsored study entitled, "Effects of Adding a Technology-based System to an In-Person Behavioral Weight Loss Program."  This study highlighted the effects of adding BodyMedia's commercially-available GoWear® fit system to a behavioral weight loss program with overweight and obese adults and compared the results from face-to-face meetings to remote meetings/telephone calls reviewing the BodyMedia data.  The study found improved weight loss trends over the initial six weeks when the GoWear fit system was used; it also showed that participants were willing to wear the Armband for more than 16 hours per day and regularly use the website.

"The technology developed by BodyMedia is state of the art.  It provides the opportunity to finally have a technique to accurately assess free-living energy expenditure," Jakicic said. "The data collected in this recent study gives us targeted findings and an exceptional instrument to create positive weight-loss programs for overweight and obese adults."

Vaughn Barry, a graduate student of Dr. Steven Blair at the Department of Exercise Science of the University of South Carolina, presented the results of the study, "Wearing the SenseWear® Armband and Weight Loss in Sedentary Overweight and Obese Adults."  This study examined the relationship between Armband usage and weight loss in overweight and obese adults over 4 months.  The study found that wearing the BodyMedia Armband for more than 80% of those days was associated with increased weight loss.  Those who also kept a food diary utilizing the BodyMedia online software had even better weight loss results.

Under the direction of Dr. Greg Welk, the Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University, presented a study entitled, "Validation of Physical Activity Monitors for Assessing Light Intensity Activity in Adults."  Including the BodyMedia SenseWear Mini and Pro3 Armbands, this study set out to determine the validity of different activity monitors for estimating energy expenditure of light intensity and free-living activities.  The study concluded that both BodyMedia Armbands provide accurate estimates of energy expenditure during light and moderate activity including sitting, standing, walking, and stair walking.

"It is very exciting to see so many published studies with such positive results presented at such a prestigious organization as ACSM, an association with such a long and distinguished heritage in exercise science," said Christine Robins, Chief Executive Officer of BodyMedia.  "These studies further demonstrate the accuracy, validity, and benefits of our technology to enhance weight loss programs and improve individuals' overall health."

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.  More than 35,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.

About BodyMedia, Inc.

Founded in 1999, BodyMedia, Inc. is the pioneer in developing wearable body monitoring systems designed to help people lose weight, improve performance, and live a healthier lifestyle. Our patented technology has been adapted for a variety of markets, enabling us to deliver validated products that monitor calorie expenditure, amount of physical activity, number of steps taken, and sleep efficiency. No other comfortable, convenient, continuous body monitoring product can measure physical activity and calories burned throughout the entire day with BodyMedia's impressive accuracy, which is greater than 90%.  For more information, visit www.bodymedia.com or call 412-543-1345.

SOURCE BodyMedia, Inc.