Pennington Biomedical contributes to study advancing medical imaging on body fat and muscle distribution

A recent study introduces an innovative method for analyzing body composition using advanced 3D imaging and deep learning techniques. This approach aims to provide more accurate assessments of body fat and muscle distribution, which are crucial for understanding health risks associated with various conditions.

The study, “3D Convolutional Deep Learning for Nonlinear Estimation of Body Composition from Whole Body Morphology,” authored by researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Center, University of Washington, University of Hawaii and University of California-San Francisco was recently published in NPJ Digital Medicine, a journal of the Nature portfolio.

This study introduces an innovative approach utilizing deep, nonlinear methods to enhance the estimation of body composition parameters, surpassing the accuracy of previous linear models. This advancement holds potential for improving assessments in clinical settings and research applications.

Authors of “3D Convolutional Deep Learning for Nonlinear Estimation of Body Composition from Whole Body Morphology” included Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield, University of Washington’s Dr. Isaac Tian, Dr. Jason Liu and Dr. Brian Curless; University of Hawaii’s Dr. Michael Wong, Nisa Kelly, Yong Liu and Dr. John Shepherd; and University of California-San Francisco’s Dr. Andrea K. Garber.

“Dr. Steven Heymsfield has extensive experience in human obesity, energy balance regulation, and the development of methods for evaluating body composition,” said Dr. John Kirwan, Pennington Biomedical Executive Director. “His contributions to this field have been pivotal in advancing the understanding of human metabolism and the application of new technologies such as 3D optical imaging in medical research.”

This development represents a step forward in medical imaging and health assessment, offering a more reliable tool for clinicians and researchers to evaluate body composition and associated health risks.

"To easily and quickly create a detailed digital map of a person’s body shape and then to use that information to generate not only accurate estimates of their body composition and health risks, but also corresponding 3D images, was almost unimaginable just a few years ago," said Dr. Heymsfield, Professor of Metabolism & Body Composition at Pennington Biomedical. "Technological advances like this require skills from a broad range of scientists and I’m pleased to have the opportunity here at Pennington Biomedical to work with colleagues from across the country and the world.”

Key Highlights of the study include:

• Advanced Imaging: The researchers utilized 3D imaging technology to capture detailed representations of the body's shape.
• Deep Learning Application: By applying sophisticated deep learning algorithms, the study achieved more precise estimations of body composition compared to traditional methods.
• Health Implications: Accurate body composition analysis is essential for assessing health risks related to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other metabolic disorders.

These findings are results from the Shape Up! Studies, funded through A.K.G.: NICHD #R01HD082166, National Institutes of Health NORC Center Grants (P30DK072476, Pennington/Louisiana and P30DK040561, Harvard); J.A.S.: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (R01DK109008 and R01DK111698). To read the full article, visit https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-025-01469-6.

About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Pennington Biomedical has the vision to lead the world in promoting metabolic health and eliminating metabolic disease through scientific discoveries that create solutions from cells to society. The center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is a campus in the LSU System.

The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 530 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a globally recognized state-of-the-art research institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.