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Video Movement Analysis Using Smartphones (ViMAS): A Pilot Study
Published on: March 14, 2017
Smartphone-based abdominal inclination angles for assessing abdominal obesity: Convergent validity and reliability
Younghyun Kwon1, Sueryun Seo1, Kyuenam Park1
1Digital Healthcare and Sports Data Science Lab, Department of Physical Education, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
Digital Health
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Smartphone inclinometer measurements of abdominal inclination angles offer a valid and reliable method for monitoring abdominal obesity. This approach may provide a practical alternative for self-monitoring daily health.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Public Health
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Abdominal obesity is a key indicator of cardiometabolic risk, necessitating regular monitoring.
- Traditional waist circumference measurements are inconvenient for self-monitoring and digital integration.
- Smartphones offer a potential solution for accessible health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the validity and reliability of smartphone inclinometer (SI) measurements of abdominal inclination angles.
- To compare examiner- versus self-measurements in individuals with varying obesity levels.
Main Methods:
- Forty adults with obesity underwent SI measurements of upper abdomen (UA), lower abdomen (LA), and total abdomen (TA) angles.
- Convergent validity was assessed against anthropometric indices.
- Reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis.
Main Results:
- Self-measured UA and TA angles showed stronger validity compared to examiner measurements.
- Good-to-excellent intra-rater reliability was observed for UA and TA angles; inter-rater reliability was moderate.
- No proportional bias was detected, but some heteroscedasticity was noted in LA and self-UA/LA measurements.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone inclinometer measurements provide acceptable validity and reliability for assessing abdominal obesity.
- UA and TA angle measurements are consistent, while LA measurements require cautious interpretation.
- This method presents a practical tool for at-home abdominal obesity monitoring.
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