Validation of a 3-Dimensional Laser Body Scanner for Assessment of Waist and Hip Circumference

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2010-06, Vol.29 (3), p.179-188
• Main Authors: Pepper, M. Reese, Freeland-Graves, Jeanne H, Yu, Wurong, Stanforth, Philip R, Cahill, Jodi M, Mahometa, Michael, Xu, Bugao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-dimensional laser body scanner; 3-dimensional photonic scan; Adult; anthropometric measurements; Anthropometry - methods; Biological and medical sciences; body image; equipment performance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hip - anatomy & histology; hip circumference; hips; Humans; image analysis; Lasers; nutrition assessment; repeatability; Reproducibility of Results; validity; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Waist Circumference; Waist-Hip Ratio; waist-to-hip ratio; waist∶hip ratio
• ISSN: 0731-5724; 1541-1087
• DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2010.10719832

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability and validity of a 3-dimensional laser body scanner for estimation of waist and hip circumferences and waist:hip ratio. METHODS: Seventy women were evaluated for waist and hip circumference and waist:hip ratio via laser scanner and tape measure. In a subset of 34 participants, 8 repeated measures of laser scanning were performed for reproducibility analysis. Validity of the instrument was assessed by regression and Bland-Altman comparison of measures of waist and hip circumferences and waist:hip ratio to tape measure. RESULTS: Reproducibility analysis showed little difference between within-subjects measurements of circumferences (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.992, p < 0.01). Evaluation of waist and hip circumferences measured by body scanning did not differ significantly from tape measure (p > 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis showed no bias between laser scanning and tape measure. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the 3-dimensional laser body scanner is a reliable and valid technique for the estimation of waist and hip circumferences as compared with tape measure. This instrument is promising as a quick and simple method of body circumference analysis.