Abstract
ObjectiveThree-dimensional photonic body surface scanners (3DPS) feature a tool to estimate total body volume (BV) from 3D images of the human body, from which the relative body fat mass (%BF) can be calculated. However, information on validity and reliability of these measurements for application in epidemiological studies is limited.MethodsValidity was assessed among 32 participants (men, 50%) aged 20–58 years. BV and %BF were assessed using a 3DPS (VitusSmart XXL) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP) with a BOD POD® device using equations by Siri and Brozek. Three scans were obtained per participant (standard, relaxed, exhaled scan). Validity was evaluated based on the agreement of 3DPS with ADP using Bland Altman plots, correlation analysis and Wilcoxon signed ranks test for paired samples. Reliability was investigated in a separate sample of 18 participants (men, 67%) aged 25–66 years using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) based on two repeated 3DPS measurements four weeks apart.ResultsMean BV and %BF were higher using 3DPS compared to ADP, (3DPS-ADP BV difference 1.1 ± 0.9 L, p<0.01; %BF difference 7.0 ± 5.6, p<0.01), yet the disagreement was not associated with gender, age or body mass index (BMI). Reliability was excellent for 3DPS BV (ICC, 0.998) and good for 3DPS %BF (ICC, 0.982). Results were similar for the standard scan and the relaxed scan but somewhat weaker for the exhaled scan.ConclusionsAlthough BV and %BF are higher than ADP measurements, our data indicate good validity and reliability for an application of 3DPS in epidemiological studies.
Highlights
Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases like type-2-diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, and accounts for a substantial proportion of disability-adjusted life years and mortality worldwide [1].The definition of obesity is based on the body mass index (BMI) [2, 3]; BMI is, to some extent, correlated with the amount of fat, it is neither a specific marker of body fat nor a marker for abnormal fat accumulation
Mean body volume (BV) and %BF were higher using 3DPS compared to air displacement plethysmography (ADP), (3DPS-ADP BV difference 1.1 ± 0.9 L, p
Reliability was excellent for 3DPS BV (ICC, 0.998) and good for 3DPS %BF (ICC, 0.982)
Summary
Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases like type-2-diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, and accounts for a substantial proportion of disability-adjusted life years and mortality worldwide [1].The definition of obesity is based on the body mass index (BMI) [2, 3]; BMI is, to some extent, correlated with the amount of fat, it is neither a specific marker of body fat nor a marker for abnormal fat accumulation. Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases like type-2-diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, and accounts for a substantial proportion of disability-adjusted life years and mortality worldwide [1]. For the same BMI older adults tend to have a higher body fat percentage, and health risk assessment using BMI is less accurate in individuals >65 years of age [4]. For the same BMI the percentage of body fat is usually higher among Asian people compared to Western populations [5]. When using a bioelectrical impedance analysis for assessing the body composition, participants should be fasting for at least two hours and not be physically active for 12 hours [7]. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are expensive and might constitute a risk for participants [8,9,10,11]
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