Longitudinal anthropometry of children and adolescents using 3D-body scanning

PLoS One. 2018 Sep 13;13(9):e0203628. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203628. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

3D-body scanning anthropometry is a suitable method for characterization of physiological development of children and adolescents, and for understanding onset and progression of disorders like overweight and obesity. Here we present a novel body typing approach to describe and to interpret longitudinal 3D-body scanning data of more than 800 children and adolescents measured in up to four follow-ups in intervals of 1 year, referring to an age range between 6 and 18 years. We analyzed transitions between body types assigned to lower-, normal- and overweight participants upon development of children and adolescents. We found a virtually parallel development of the body types with only a few transitions between them. Body types of children and adolescents tend to conserve their weight category. 3D body scanning anthropometry in combination with body typing constitutes a novel option to investigate onset and progression of obesity in children.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anthropometry / methods*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / pathology*
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Overweight / pathology
  • Overweight / physiopathology
  • Somatotypes

Grants and funding

This publication is supported by LIFE – Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University. LIFE is funded by means of the European Union, by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), by the European Social Fund (ESF) and by means of the Free State of Saxony within the framework of the excellence initiative.