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Body composition estimates using a 2D image analysis system across different environmental conditions: An agreement
Casey J Metoyer1, Katherine Sullivan2, Lee J Winchester3
1Notre Dame Sports Performance, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.
Journal of Biophotonics
|January 29, 2024
Summary
Smartphone body fat percentage measurements using the IMAGE application show strong agreement across various camera types, lighting, and backgrounds. Environmental conditions minimally impact accuracy, suggesting reliable use in diverse settings.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Body composition analysis is crucial for health monitoring.
- Smartphone applications offer accessible tools for health assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of body fat percentage (%Fat) measurements using the IMAGE smartphone application.
- To assess the impact of varying environmental conditions on %Fat measurement accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Reference %Fat measurements were obtained using an 8MP smartphone camera under ambient light.
- Additional images were captured using different MP cameras (0.7MP, 5MP, 12MP), lighting conditions (low, moderate, bright), and backgrounds (white, black, green, orange, gray).
Main Results:
- Most conditions showed strong correlation (ICC > 0.98) and low error (SEE < 1.5 %Fat) with the reference, except for the black background (ICC = 0.69, SEE = 4.5%).
- %Fat measurements were slightly higher with the 0.7MP camera and black, green, or gray backgrounds compared to the reference.
- All tested parameters, except the black background, demonstrated good agreement with reference measurements.
Conclusions:
- The IMAGE smartphone application provides reliable %Fat measurements across diverse environmental conditions.
- Environmental factors like camera resolution, lighting, and background color have a minimal effect on the application's accuracy, with the exception of a black background.
