The feasibility and acceptability of using the Bod Pod procedure to measure changes in body composition in 30 adolescent females admitted to an inpatient eating disorder unit was evaluated using written surveys, Bod Pod measurements obtained at admission and discharge, and medical records review. Participants rated the Bod Pod test as acceptable (100%; 30/30), comfortable (93%, 28/30), and they were willing to repeat the procedure (97%, 29/30). Ten participants did not complete the final Bod Pod: eight were discharged before a second measure could be obtained, one refused the test, and one left against medical advice. Three participants had undetectable readings at admission. Paired t-tests (n = 17) revealed a significant (p < 0.001) mean increase in fat mass (3.7 ± 2 kg), body fat percentage (6.6 ± 3.8%), and lean mass (1.4 ± 1.2 kg) from admission to discharge. The Bod Pod is a feasible and acceptable procedure to measure changes in body composition in adolescent females hospitalized with an eating disorder.
Keywords: body composition; eating disorder; refeeding.