Body shape: Implications in the study of obesity and related traits

NAVARRO, PABLO; RAMALLO, VIRGINIA; CINTAS, CELIA; RUDERMAN, ANAHÍ; AZEVEDO, SOLEDAD; PASCHETTA, CAROLINA; PÉREZ, ORLANDO; PAZOS, BRUNO; DELRIEUX, CLAUDIO; GONZÁLEZ JOSÉ, ROLANDO

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2019

1042-0533

AbstractObjectives: The diagnosis and treatment of obesity are usually based on traditional anthropometric variables including weight, height, and several body perimeters. Here we present a three-dimensional (3D) image-based computational approach aimed to capture the distribution of abdominal adipose tissue as an aspect of shape rather than a relationship among classical anthropometric measures.Methods: A morphometric approach based on landmarks and semilandmarks placed upon the 3D torso surface was performed in order to quantify abdominal adiposity shape variation and its relation to classical indices. Specifically, we analyzed sets of body cross-sectional circumferences, collectively defining each, along with anthro- pometric data taken on 112 volunteers. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed on 250 circumferences located along the abdominal region of each volun- teer. An analysis of covariance model was used to compare shape variables (PCs) against anthropometric data (weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences). Results: The observed shape patterns were mainly related to nutritional status, followed by sexual dimorphism. PC1 (12.5%) and PC2 (7.5%) represented 20% of the total variation. In PCAs calculated independently by sex, linear regression ana- lyses provide statistically significant associations between PC1 and the three classi- cal indexes: body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-hip ratio. Conclusion: Shape indicators predict well the behavior of classical markers, but also evaluate 3D and geometric features with more accuracy as related to the body shape under study. This approach also facilitates diagnosis and follow-up of thera- pies by using accessible 3D technology.