Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2026
Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging
Published on: June 7, 2024
Chest, waist, and hip circumference estimations from stereo photographic digital topography
1Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse 54601, USA. mikat_rp@mail.uwlax.edu
Background:
Stereo photographic digital topography (SPDT) is a new development of potential value for the determination of anthropometric circumference measurements of the chest, waist, and hip. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of SPDT.
Methods:
Subjects included 148 healthy female volunteers (age 21 to 51). The same-day test-retest reliability of SPDT was established by comparing initial measurements with a repeat. Validity was established by correlating SPDT measurements with criterion measures from traditional tape-measure assessment.
Results:
Reliability coefficients of 0.99 were obtained for chest, waist, and hip circumferences. Further, high indices of validity were recorded for girths of the chest (r = 0.97, SEE = 2.57 cm), waist (r = 0.94, SEE = 3.16 cm), and hip (r = 0.96, SEE = 2.29 cm).
Conclusions:
High reliability and validity, low cost, ease of use, and comfort for subjects make SPDT a viable alternative to traditional anthropometric evaluation techniques.
