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BOD POD creates partnership between HU, GladdMD

HUNTINGTON, Ind. — The kinesiology department at Huntington University is partnering with the GladdMD Integrative Medicine clinic in Fort Wayne to increase the exposure of the university’s BOD POD.

For the first time, the BOD POD, a state-of-the-art system that accurately measures body composition, will be utilized on a regular basis as a part of a larger program — something Dr. Jeffrey Gladd, founder and owner of GladdMD, couldn’t be happier about.

Gladd, who studied medicine at Indiana and Ball State University, started tracking his own body composition during trips to Arizona where he was helping launch an integrative medicine clinic. He realized then that the BOD POD was piece of equipment his Fort Wayne clinic could benefit from.

“I wanted this assessment in my own clinic, but quickly realized it was a costly endeavor,” he said. “I considered referring patients down to NIFS in Indianapolis, but on a random internet search for BOD PODs, I came across an article about it being used at HU by Dr. Matthew Ruiz’ team. I contacted him that day.”

Ruiz, HU’s associate professor of exercise science, and his department had already been looking for community partners since they purchased the BOD POD in 2011.
“The attraction to purchasing the BOD POD was so that we could fulfill HU’s calling to literally be the hands and feet of Christ,” Ruiz said. “I emphasize it in my classes, and our students take it seriously. We’ve done a good job in working with the Huntington YMCA and Anytime Fitness, but Gladd’s partnership gives our program and the usefulness of the BOD POD exposure that we simply can’t get in Huntington.”

The university purchased the BOD POD to offer students the most advanced means possible for measuring body composition. The system is an important part of preparing students for further educational experiences and training after graduation.

“For those who are struggling to lose body fat, despite executing the lifestyle strategy we design, we will now have the ability to go further in evaluating their metabolism through other technologies offered at HU like VO2 Max testing,” Gladd said. “This will enable us to determine the exact energy requirements needed as well as implement other efforts to increase their base metabolism.”

Ruiz believes the partnership has already begun to benefit his students and the GladdMD clients.

“Two weeks since we’ve been actively evaluating the clients from Gladd, we’ve utilized the BOD POD more than we did in the previous six months,” he said. “It’s also great experience for our students in working with real-life clients to explain the BOD POD and the information it generates. I am very happy that we have been able to complement our services with the services of Gladd, and I anticipate even more shared services and partnerships in the future.”

For more information about the features of the BOD POD, visit www.bodpod.com.

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution to its “Best in the Midwest” list. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).