Comparison Of Waist And Hip Circumference Measures From 3-dimensional Technology And Manual Measurements

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) scanning technology is becoming increasingly popular to obtain quick anthropometric and body composition measurements and may be a practical alternative to manual assessment methods. PURPOSE: To compare waist and hip circumferences measured from a 3D scan to manual measurements in healthy adults. METHODS: Data was collected on 66 healthy male (n=22) and female (n=44) young adults (Mean ± SD: Age: 20.6 ± 1.1 yrs, BMI: 22.6 ± 2.0 kg/m2). Manual measurement of the waist was assessed at the narrowest part of the trunk; hip circumference was measured at the widest region of the buttocks. Circumferences were measured twice by the same researcher and averaged. Measurements corresponding to the same waist and hip regions assessed manually were automatically determined by the 3D scanner software. Paired-samples t-tests were utilized to determine differences between methods for the total sample and each sex. Manual measurements were used as the criterion to evaluate prediction error (standard error of the estimate [SEE]). RESULTS: For the total sample, the 3D scan significantly underestimated waist (Mean difference (3D - manual) [MD]: MD: 6.3 ± 2.2 cm; p<0.001) and hip (MD: 2.8 ± 2.3 cm; p<0.001) circumferences compared to manual assessments. For the men, the 3D scanner significantly underestimated waist (MD: 6.6 ± 2.1 cm; p<0.001) and hip (MD: 2.2 ± 1.9 cm; p<0.001) circumferences. The same trend was seen for women for the waist (MD: 6.1 ± 2.2 cm; p<0.001) and hips (MD: 3.0 ± 2.5 cm; p<0.001). Prediction error of hip circumference was greater for women (SEE=2.42 cm) compared to men (SEE=1.94 cm); waist circumference error was similar for women (SEE=2.14 cm) and men (SEE =2.05 cm). CONCLUSIONS: 3D technology may underestimate waist and hip circumference estimates compared to manual techniques in normal weight adults. However, 3D technology may be useful to provide quick anthropometric measurements.