Shape Up! Keiki — participant FAQ

Shape Up! Keiki invites parents to enroll infants and toddlers ages 0–5. Families learn about their child’s health while researchers build new technologies to understand the human body.

Visit basics

   
Cost Free; families receive copies of their child’s health information and a gift card
Duration ~5 hours total (single day, with breaks between procedures)
Location UH Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Scheduling Weekend appointments available — call (808) 440-5234

What happens during the visit

Questionnaire (~15 minutes)

Parents complete a questionnaire covering diet and development, including:

  • ASA24 — the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool
  • Ages and Stages — developmental questionnaire

Body composition

  • DXA scan — safe for all ages; radiation exposure less than a chest X-ray. Babies may be swaddled for comfort. More about DXA →
  • Bod Pod / Pea Pod — specialized infant equipment lets us measure children while they lie down. More about Bod Pod →
  • 3D optical scan — uses a clear crib for full-body scanning without standing. More about 3D optical →

Biological samples

Urine and saliva are collected using the deuterium dilution method. Children drink water enriched with deuterium — a safe, measurable isotope — which lets us calculate body composition.

Why this study matters

We’re working to identify quick, accessible ways to measure children’s health using body shape — and to understand the relationships between body composition, physical strength, and cardiovascular health.

Ready to enroll? Get in touch →

Stay in the loop

New publications, study announcements, and research updates — occasional, no spam.