Volumetric differences in body shape among adults with differing body mass index values: An analysis using three-dimensional body scans

Abstract

Objectives: This study quantified differences in body shape of people differing in body mass index (BMI), using three-dimensional (3D) scan-extracted segmental body volumes. Methods: Eight segmental volumes were measured on 340 young adults (169 males and 171 females) aged 18-30 years, using the Vitus Smart 3D whole body scanner. Body volumes were also expressed as a ratio of the sex-specific mean volume (segmental or whole body) and compared to BMI using simple linear regression, multiple-segment-linear regression and Lowess curves. Results: While all segmental volumes increased significantly as BMI increased, the BMI-related patterns of increase varied among different body segments. For example, pelvis and abdomen volumes increased at a significantly greater rate than whole body volume, with the rates of increase greatest in the overweight and obese. Conclusions: Body shape changes due to variations in body volume could have important implications in a range of fields that currently use 1D anthropometric measurements that do not capture body shape differences in the same detail. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:156-163, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.