Associations between relative body fat and areal body surface roughness characteristics in 3D photonic body scans-a proof of feasibility.

This study shows that areal surface roughness characteristics assessed from 3D photonic whole-body scans associate well with relative body fat, therefore representing a viable new approach to improve current 3D scanner-based methods for determining body composition and obesity-associated health risks. Further investigations may validate our method with other data or provide a more detailed understanding of the relation between the body's areal surface characteristics and adipose tissue distribution by including larger and more diverse populations or focusing on particular body segments.