BVI America LLC Launches Body Volume Application To Give Health, Fitness And Wellness Professionals An Accessible Tool For Measuring Individual Health Risk

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8093051-bvi-america-body-volume-app-health-fitness/

The potential benefits of using Body Volume as a new indicator of risks were presented on April 27 by Mayo Clinic researchers, BVI America and the University of Westminster. It draws on 10 years of rigorous research, testing and validation using several potential Body Volume indices. Now BVI, calculated as a ratio between total volume and abdominal volume, can be used as a supplement to the current measurement standard of BMI, which is based solely on height and weight. BVI is considered to be a more precise means of estimating weight distribution and the fat around the organs, which is not visible to the human eye and can lead to serious health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. The medical and professional community at large is invited to contribute to the continued development of BVI by downloading and using the BVI Pro tablet application with their patients and clients; anonymous data collected will be analyzed by Mayo Clinic, whose research and validation of BVI will continue.

"The idea for BVI was born out of the realization that using external measurements was just one piece of the puzzle and rather than just accepting this as the standard, we needed to measure internal factors as well," said Richard Barnes, CEO of Select Research. "Thanks to the support from Mayo Clinic and our other global collaborators, BVI – delivered through the BVI Pro app – can now help effectively identify and manage health risks, based upon a person's weight distribution, in a cost-effective way, providing something of real value for the professional community in the U.S., and eventually globally."

Now that professionals in the medical, clinical and fitness fields have access to the new indicator, BVI Pro can make estimates of body volume, percentage of visceral fat and distribution of body fat for patients and clients in less than a minute. Incorporating the research and validation from the cooperation with Mayo Clinic experts and other international scientific collaborators and utilizing patented 3D Body Volume imaging smart technology, BVI Pro can safely, accurately and affordably calculate body composition, weight distribution and associated health risks, while also taking into account an individual's age, gender and level of self-reported physical activity. BVI Pro allows professionals to keep detailed records of patient measurements to monitor transformations and results over time.

In conjunction with the introduction of the BVI Pro app, BVI America is launching the #SpeakVolumes initiative to educate, engage with and inspire the professional community to change the way they measure and talk about body composition with their patients. Through #SpeakVolumes, BVI America will promote a continuous dialogue about the advancements in body composition and invite the professional community to anonymously submit patient data to continue validating and expanding the reach of BVI. The aim, with the help of the scientific community, is to make BVI a viable and credible "index" by 2020.

The BVI Pro app is now available to download on iPads via iTunes. To participate in the #SpeakVolumes conversation, please visit www.bodyvolume.com and follow @bodyvolume on Twitter and Facebook.

For more information about the Body Volume Indicator and the BVI Pro tablet app, please visit www.bodyvolume.com.  

About Select Research
Select Research is a recognized world leader in 3D body imaging and weight distribution measurement technology with over 20 years' experience in the field. Select Research pioneered the use of 3D body volume imaging in healthcare, wellness and retail and has set up a U.S. subsidiary, BVI America, to supply body volume imaging in the market. Its patented 3D imaging software measures and analyzes body composition and body weight distribution – including visceral fat – from just two images, providing an efficient and cost-effective solution for professionals and clinicians alike. Research and data development by Select Research for measuring the human body in 3D for healthcare purposes has been ongoing since January 2000. 

BVI Collaborators
Since 2007, Select Research has worked in cooperative development on BVI with two main collaborators: Mayo Clinic in the U.S. and Medical Research Council in the UK. Other collaborators involved in the development of BVI over the past 10 years include Aston University, Heartlands NHS Hospital, St. Anne's Hospital in the Czech Republic, West Midlands AHSN, and The University of Westminster. Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this news release. Mayo Clinic will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education and research.

About the University of Westminster
The University of Westminster boasts a vibrant learning environment attracting thousands of students from over 150 nations and continues to invest in new developments, research projects and new ideas. In its distinguished 175-year history, University of Westminster has led the way in research in fields of politics, media, art and design, architecture and biomedical sciences, and continues to build close connections with leading figures and organizations in those areas and in business, information technology and law.

SOURCE BVI America LLC