The Exercise Physiology Laboratory is now offering health, fitness and metabolic assessments to help participants manage health and weight, as well as increase athletic performance.

Participants will use state-of-the-art technology, including FUEL testing, the BodPod and Sensewear Armband analysis to measure body composition, physical activity, energy expenditure, metabolism and aerobic capacity and threshold.

“For individuals desiring to optimize their cardiovascular health, achieve weight loss or improve endurance [during] athletic performance, the KNR Exercise Physiology Lab offers assessments that can help find what intensity that is for individuals,” Laura Wheatley, program coordinator at the Exercise Physiology Lab, said.

FUEL testing will measure how many calories are burned during the different exercise intensities, which will help determine each individual’s maximum fat-burning zone for aerobic training and health benefits.

During the FUEL test, participants will start by running at a low speed on his or her choice of cardio machine while wearing a metabolic mask.

As body levels are measured, speeds will gradually increase every stage for about three minutes until an anaerobic, or carbohydrate-burning threshold is reached.

“By training at a target heart rate zone, you can optimize your weight management or athletic performance goals,” Wheatley said.

Individuals can also measure body composition using the BodPod, an egg-shaped assessment machine that uses air displacement to measure the ratio of fat to fat-free mass in each participant.

Each individual will be asked to sit in the BodPod for a short period of time while breathing in during one to two minute testing intervals. Testing will then determine a healthy or goal body weight, as well as the competitive body weight for athletes.

“Athletes looking to train for endurance events like organized cycling rides, 5K runs, marathon, or triathlons can receive customized zones appropriate for recovery, aerobic training, endurance racing, and interval workouts,” Wheatley said.

Participants can also measure his or her real-life caloric expenditure and normal physical activity by wearing a Sensewear Armband for a few days of analysis.

After wearing the armband for several days, participants simply drop it off at the lab and will receive an email report within a few days.

“You simply wear the armband on your arm throughout the day, and it calculates energy expenditure, the number of steps you take, daily physical activity, exercise intensity and sleep duration and efficiency,” Maria Canino, junior exercise science major, said.

FUEL testing costs $100, BodPod testing is $50 and Sensewear Armband testing costs $60 to the general public. However, group discounts are also available, and ISU students receive a 40 percent discount on each of these services.

Each test will be conducted at the Exercise Physiology Lab in room 177 of McCormick Hall from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. during business hours. Special accommodations can be made upon request.

“Fitness and exercise need to be seen as a journey not a destination,” Canino added.

For more information, contact Laura Wheatley at (309) 438-3526 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Fitness testing assesses body composition, physical activity