Validation of a 3-Dimensional Laser Body Scanner for Assessment of Waist and Hip Circumference
Pepper, M. R., Freeland-Graves, J. H., Yu, W., Stanforth, P. R., Cahill, J. M., Mahometa, M., & Xu, B. (2010). Validation of a 3-dimensional laser body scanner for assessment of waist and hip circumference. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 29(3), 179-188.
Abstract
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.