Body height and waist circumference of young Swiss men as assessed by 3D laser-based photonic scans and by manual anthropometric measurements

Overweight and obesity are considered among the major health concerns worldwide. The body mass index is a frequently used measure for overweight and obesity and is associated with common non-communicable diseases such as diabetes type II, cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. However, the body mass index does not account for the distribution of body fat and relative fat to muscle mass. 3D laser-based photonic full body scans provide detailed information on various body circumferences, surfaces, and volumes as well as body height and weight (using an integrated scale). In the literature, body scans showed good feasibility, reliability, and validity, while also demonstrating a good correlation with health parameters linked to the metabolic syndrome. However, systematic differences between body scan derived measurements and manual measurements remain an issue. This study aimed to assess these systematic differences for body height, waist circumference, and body mass index using cross-sectional data from a homogenous sample of 52 young Swiss male volunteers. In addition to 3D laser-based photonic full body scans and correlative manual measurements, body fat distribution was assessed through bioelectrical impedance analysis. Overall, an excellent correlation was found between measurements of waist circumference and body mass index, and good correlation between body mass index and total fat mass, as well as between waist circumference and visceral fat mass as assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Volunteers were shorter in height measured by body scan when compared to manual measurements. This systematic difference became smaller when volunteers stood in the scanner in a completely upright position with their feet together. Waist circumference was slightly smaller for manual measurements than for body scan derived values. This systematic difference was larger in overweight volunteers compared to leaner volunteers.