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Published on: June 7, 2024
Validity of Three-Dimensional Photonic Scanning Technique for Estimating Percent Body Fat
K Shitara1, H Kanehisa, T Fukunaga
1Yasuo Kawakami Ph.D, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan. E-mail: ykawa@waseda.jp, Tel and Fax +81-4-2947-6784.
Background:
Three-dimensional photonic scanning (3DPS) was recently developed to measure dimensions of a human body surface.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to explore the validity of body volume measured by 3DPS for estimating the percent body fat (%fat). Design, setting, participants, and measurement: The body volumes were determined by 3DPS in 52 women. The body volume was corrected for residual lung volume. The %fat was estimated from body density and compared with the corresponding reference value determined by the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Results:
No significant difference was found for the mean values of %fat obtained by 3DPS (22.2 ± 7.6%) and DXA (23.5 ± 4.9%). The root mean square error of %fat between 3DPS and reference technique was 6.0%. For each body segment, there was a significant positive correlation between 3DPS- and DXA-values, although the corresponding value for the head was slightly larger in 3DPS than in DXA. Residual lung volume was negatively correlated with the estimated error in %fat.
Conclusions:
The body volume determined with 3DPS is potentially useful for estimating %fat. A possible strategy for enhancing the measurement accuracy of %fat might be to refine the protocol for preparing the subject's hair prior to scanning and to improve the accuracy in the measurement of residual lung volume.
