Digital Biometry as an Obesity Diagnosis Tool: A Review of Current Applications and Future Directions

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease and a major public health concern due to its high prevalence and associated complications. Paradoxically, several studies have found that obesity might positively impact the prognosis of patients with certain existing chronic diseases, while some individuals with normal BMI may develop obesity-related complications. This phenomenon might be explained by differences in body composition, such as visceral adipose tissue (VAT), total body fat (TBF), and fat-free mass (FFM). Indirect measures of body composition such as body circumferences, skinfold thicknesses, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices are useful clinically and in epidemiological studies but are often difficult to perform, time-consuming, or inaccurate. Biomedical imaging methods, i.e., computerized tomography scanners (CT scan), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provide accurate assessments but are expensive and not readily available. Recent advancements in 3D optical image technology offer an innovative way to assess body circumferences and body composition, though most machines are costly and not widely available. Two-dimensional optical image technology might offer an interesting alternative, but its accuracy needs validation. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of 2D and 3D automated body scan devices in assessing body circumferences and body composition.