UK, Stephen Ibaraki, Season 07, Male, English, Business Leader, Pharma; Healthcare

Richard Barnes, Founder & CEO of Select Research, on Body Volume Index (BVI)

Posted on by inknuts
10
Jul

Richard Barnes, Founder & CEO of Select Research, on Body Volume Index (BVI)

  • BMI, invented in 1835, does not account for body shape.
  • Barnes’ transition from the retail clothing industry to medical research.

Podcast

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Overview

In this episode of TBCY, Richard Barnes, Founder & CEO of Select Research, shares his groundbreaking journey from retail imaging to transforming global healthcare through the Body Volume Index (BVI). Moving beyond the nearly 200-year-old Body Mass Index (BMI), Barnes highlights how BVI leverages technology, research collaborations, and machine learning to deliver more accurate health data—accessible using just a smartphone.

00:00- What is the problem with BMI, and how did the BVI journey begin?

  • BMI, invented in 1835, does not account for body shape.
  • Barnes’ transition from the retail clothing industry to medical research.
  • Discovery of BMI’s limitations, especially for children.

04:00- How did Select Research transition from retail to healthcare, and what was the initial research process?

  • Early use of full-body scanners for retail sizing.
  • Collaboration with the UK Department of Health and the U.S. CDC.
  • Partnerships with Emory University and the Mayo Clinic for validation.
  • Involvement of national and international experts in mapping body composition.

07:00- What technology and data drove the creation of BVI?

  • Use of full-body MRI scans and DEXA imaging for accurate internal measurements.
  • Creation of the world’s largest MRI dataset for machine learning analysis.
  • Transition from full-body scanners to smartphone-based imaging.
  • Launch of a smartphone-based BVI app in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic.

12:00- Who supports BVI, and how is it used today?

  • Endorsement and validation from more than 60 organizations worldwide, including the CDC, NHS, the EU, and leading universities.
  • BVI is delivered through the MyBVI app and integrated via APIs.
  • Growing importance in tracking the effects of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, where rapid body-shape changes occur.
  • BVI’s value for AI-driven insights into previously unknown body correlations.

17:00- Is BVI gaining global and institutional adoption?

  • Trials supported by the World Health Organization in Africa and India.
  • Scalable API integration with minimal cost and extensive compatibility.
  • The smartphone revolution enables mass adoption, with no special equipment required.

18:00- What about regulatory clearances for BVI?

  • Classification as a general wellness product by the FDA, not as a medical device.
  • Similar approvals from European regulatory agencies.
  • BVI provides measurement data rather than medical diagnoses, leaving clinical decisions to healthcare professionals.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Richard Barnes: LinkedIn 

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BMI measures only height and weight—it completely ignores body shape. As a result, your health risk profile is grouped with everyone else’s, regardless of how your weight is distributed.

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Profile

  • Richard Barnes is the Founder and CEO of Select Research, focused on advancing digital health innovation.
  • He pioneered the development of the Body Volume Index (BVI), a next-generation health assessment designed to provide a more accurate alternative to the traditional Body Mass Index (BMI).
  • Richard combines technology, research, machine learning, and global scientific collaborations to make health measurement more precise and accessible using everyday devices such as smartphones.
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