VOLUNTEER MODELS NEEDED: (£45 Shopping voucher) 28/11/25 12:00-15:00, AWRC Sheffield

At the end of November, at Hallam’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) in Attercliffe, we are holding a body measurement training course. On the final day of the training (28th November) there will be an assessment in which course attendees are required to measure 3 models each. Doing so will allow us to assess their precision.  However, we need volunteers (aged 18 year+) to participate as these models.

The session will last ~ 3 hours (12:00-15:00) and each model will receive a £45 Shopping voucher. You will be have a series of body measures (a video of these measures can be found here) taken using tape measure and callipers. Each measurement session will take ~15 minutes and you will be measured no more than 6 times. You will be required to wear form fitting non compressive clothing. If you do not have suitable clothing we can provide some. We would also recommend that you bring some loose clothing to wear on top in between measurement sessions, again if you do not have suitable clothing we can provide some.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Dr Alice Bullas (a.bullas@shu.ac.uk). Or if you know of somebody else that might be interested, please share this opportunity with them.

November 2025: SHU ISAK level 1 accreditation & re-accreditation training course

SHU School of Sport & Physical Activity & the AWRC to hold ISAK Level 1 CPD training in November 2025 (26 – 28/11 09:00 – 17:00). This course will teach an understanding of the theory of anthropometric applications through asynchronous online content (received 2 weeks ahead of practical sessions) and in person practical sessions over consecutive days.

During the final day you will undergo a practical examination in which your inter and intra anthropometrist error will be assessed. After the course you are required to collect 20 anthropometric profiles, achieving appropriate intra anthropometrist error, to achieve ISAK accreditation.

Once accredited, the ISAK certificate is valid for 4 years, after which point you can undertake re-accreditation at the same level or complete a full course at a higher level.

This course is an official ISAK registered course and is delivered by an ISAK accredited level 3 instructor, and anthropometry specialist in the Morphology Research Theme, Dr Alice Bullas.

The cost of this course includes the training course, ISAK membership registration, digital ISAK manual royalty fee, a physical ISAK manual, lunch and refreshments each day.

SHU student/staff/alumni will receive a large discount.

If you are interested in ISAK Level 2, please get in contact – as this will only be provided if there is enough demand. This would be costed at External: £550, Student*: £400, SHU staff* / alumni*: £350, SHU student: £325.

ISAK LEVEL 1 (External: £450, Student*: £300, SHU staff* / alumni*: £250, SHU student: £225).

This ISAK level 1 course is designed for those required to collate a restricted profile of anthropometric measurements and skinfolds: 4 base measures, 8 skinfolds, 6 girths and 3 bone breadths. BOOK HERE

RE-ACCREDITATION (External: £155, Student*: £130, SHU staff* / alumni*: £130, SHU student: £110).

This course is the re-accreditation (one day examination) for the ISAK level 1 and 2 course. This consists of a three-subject practical exam in which Inter-tester TEM targets (of 12.5% for each skinfold and 2.5% for each of the other measures), must be met. This is an in person practical examination session over 1 days (typically 9:30am – 5:00pm). BOOK HERE

*Proof of Student ID/Staff ID/Graduation Certificate Required.

ABOUT ISAK:

ISAK, the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry, is a global organization that sets standards for the measurement of the human body in relation to movement, health, and performance. Kinanthropometry focuses on body composition, size, shape, and proportionality, and ISAK plays a key role by providing a standardized framework for how these measurements are taken and interpreted. Through internationally recognized accreditation courses, ISAK ensures that practitioners—such as sport scientists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists—collect accurate, reliable, and consistent anthropometric data.

The importance of ISAK lies in its ability to unify and professionalize measurement practices worldwide. Accurate anthropometric assessment is essential for evaluating athletic potential, monitoring training adaptations, tailoring nutrition programs, and identifying health risks linked to obesity or undernutrition. By maintaining strict methodological standards, ISAK enhances comparability across studies and applications, ensuring data is scientifically valid. This supports evidence-based decision-making in sports performance, talent identification, physical education, and clinical health. Ultimately, ISAK provides the foundation for trustworthy anthropometric research and practice, advancing both science and applied health fields globally.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Candidates whose previous accreditation has expired for more than two years are ineligible for re-accreditation, unless there is a medically-certified reason for their not having been able to re-accredit within that entire period. In the absence of that, these candidates must redo the complete Level 1 course if they wish to regain their accreditation.

No candidate can be admitted to a re-accreditation workshop if any unresolved disciplinary or administrative issue exists between them and ISAK. Therefore, it is compulsory for the candidate to contact the ISAK Secretariat to confirm approval for reaccreditation ahead of booking onto this course. This email confirmation should then be forwarded to the course leader – Dr Alice Bullas (a.bullas@shu.ac.uk).

Certification will only be issued after: Successful participation in an anthropometry course (at Level 1) containing theory and practical components as specified in the Level 1 curriculum. Successful demonstration of landmarking, equipment manipulation and measurement of the Restricted Profile in front of a Level 3 or Level 4 Anthropometrist. Successful completion of a practical examination (80% minimum) in the presence of a Level 3 (Instructor) or Level 4 (Criterion) Anthropometrist.

The examination will consist of the measurement of a sample set of 10 variables from the Restricted Profile on 3 subjects. The 10 variables of the exam must include: 1 base measure, 5 skinfolds, 3 girths and 1 bone breaths. To score points for a variable, the intra-tester % TEM in the practical exam must be no more than 10% for skinfolds and no more than 2% for the other measures. To score points for a variable, the inter-tester %TEM between the criterion and the technician, using the same equipment, must be no more than 12.5% for skinfold measures and no more than 2.5% for the other measures (Table 1).Successful post-course completion of repeat measures of the Restricted Profile on 20 subjects, where a subject is landmarked once and then duplicate or triplicate measures are taken, as required. All variables of the Restricted Profile are to be measured on each of the 20 subjects. [This must be done by measuring the entire proforma once, then the entire proforma a second time, then taking third measures where needed.]

Within-course Post-course profiles 15 tester %TEMs for the duplicates must not exceed 7.5% for any skinfold nor 1.5% for any of the other measures. The authenticity of the measurement session(s) and original data sheets must be certified by the candidate. The authenticity and adequacy of those measurements are matters for the Examiner to determine. Note: Level 1s have 4 months from the date of their practical examination to submit their 20 proformas through ISAK Metry software.

Certification expires four years and four months from the date of the practical
examination.

100% Refunds available up to 14 days before the course start date (26/11/25).
50% Refunds available up to 7 days before the course start date (26/11/25).

If you are interested in attending, or have any questions please get in contact with Dr Alice Bullas

CALL FOR PAPERS (DEADLINE EXTENDED FEB’26) – Applied Sciences Special Issue: Novel Anthropometric Techniques for Health and Nutrition Assessment

Looking to publish research in anthropometry? We are looking for papers (deadline 31/12/24 – EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 2026) on: the validity of anthropometric indices in health and nutritional screenings, novel anthropometric indices and techniques, applications of anthropometry for physical performance assessment, and association of anthropometry and psychological health.

Background:

Anthropometry is a non-invasive, simple, convenient and cost-effective method to assess the health and nutritional status of individuals and populations. To date, a number of anthropometric indices, including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference, have been proposed as useful tools to screen health and nutritional status. Today, with the advancement of technologies to assess body composition and fat distribution patterns, physical performance, metabolic biomarkers, and also genetic information, the capabilities and usefulness of anthropometry and the indices that conveniently reflect these pieces of information have been highlighted.

In this Special Issue of Applied Sciences, we will consider studies that investigate the potential of anthropometry in assessments of both physiological and psychological health and nutritional status. The topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • Validity of anthropometric indices in health and nutritional screenings;
  • Proposal of novel anthropometric indices and techniques;
  • Application of anthropometry for physical performance assessment;
  • Association of anthropometry and psychological health.

Guest Editors:

Dr. Masaharu Kagawa – Institute of Nutrition Sciences, Kagawa Nutrition University, Japan.
Dr. Alice May Bullas – SHU, Sheffield, UK.

For more information please head to the Applied Sciences website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/special_issues/H6R3N30EU3

13/08/24 (12:30-13:30) BASES Webinar – Beyond the Scale: Evaluating Body Metrics in Health and Sport

Body measures underpin life as we know it; from the trivial: the shape of the chair you’re sat on, the clothes you are wearing and the dimension of your devices, to the critical: the design of your seat belt, your qualification for medical treatments and the dosages of those treatment. In sport we typically place a lot of emphasis on the accuracy of these measures, however this has not translated into health – yet. This presentation explores the translation of body measurement expertise from sport to health, with a focus on childhood obesity.

For more information please head to the BASES webite:https://www.bases.org.uk/subcalendar.html?id=events&sub=event_listings0&ssub=&p=0&eventtype=10

NEWS: Dr Alice Bullas researcher awarded prestigious Future Leaders Fellowship

Sheffield Hallam University morphology researcher, Dr Alice Bullas, been awarded a £1.6m Future Leaders Fellowship from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to develop new body measurement methods for children living with obesity.

Alice has been recognised as one of the most promising science and research leaders in the UK, securing one of 75 fellowships announced today (Monday 4 December).

The Fellowship will fund a five-year study to identify the most accurate and suitable ways to assess the health of children, with a focus on childhood obesity. The project is centred around developing new approaches for data collection of external body shapes, body composition and health measures from 400 children from diverse backgrounds across Sheffield.

The full SHU press release can be viewed here.