Comparison of Body Scanner and Manual Anthropometric Measurements of Body Shape: A Systematic Review

Lorena Rumbo-Rodríguez, Miriam Sánchez-SanSegundo, Rosario Ferrer-Cascales, Nahuel García-D’Urso, Jose A. Hurtado-Sánchez and Ana Zaragoza-Martí
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Lorena Rumbo-Rodríguez: Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Miriam Sánchez-SanSegundo: Department of Health Psychology, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Rosario Ferrer-Cascales: Department of Health Psychology, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Nahuel García-D’Urso: Department of Computer Technology, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Jose A. Hurtado-Sánchez: Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Ana Zaragoza-Martí: Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Anthropometrics are a set of direct quantitative measurements of the human body’s external dimensions, which can be used as indirect measures of body composition. Due to a number of limitations of conventional manual techniques for the collection of body measurements, advanced systems using three-dimensional (3D) scanners are currently being employed, despite being a relatively new technique. A systematic review was carried out using Pubmed, Medline and the Cochrane Library to assess whether 3D scanners offer reproducible, reliable and accurate data with respect to anthropometrics. Although significant differences were found, 3D measurements correlated strongly with measurements made by conventional anthropometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP), among others. In most studies (61.1%), 3D scanners were more accurate than these other techniques; in fact, these scanners presented excellent accuracy or reliability. 3D scanners allow automated, quick and easy measurements of different body tissues. Moreover, they seem to provide reproducible, reliable and accurate data that correlate well with the other techniques used.

Keywords: whole-body imaging; body scanner; anthropometry; waist circumference; reliability; validity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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