Comparing digital anthropometrics from mobile applications to reference methods: a scoping review

Authors

• Irismar Gonçalves Almeida da Encarnação, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
• Matheus Santos Cerqueira, Federal Institute Southeast of Minas Gerais, Campus Rio Pomba, Brazil
• Paulo Henrique Ribeiro Fernandes Almeida, Independent Researcher, São Paulo, Brazil
• Cláudia Eliza Patrocínio de Oliveira, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
• Analiza Mónica Lopes de Almeida Silva, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
• Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
• Steven B. Heymsfield, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA
• Osvaldo Costa Moreira, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-7-2025

Publication Title

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Abstract

This scoping review aimed to assess the repeatability and accuracy of Digital Anthropometry by Mobile Application (DAM) compared to reference methods for estimating anthropometric dimensions, body volume (BV), and body composition. A comprehensive search was conducted on December 8th, 2024, without restrictions on language, time, sex, ethnicity, age, or health condition. We found 14 different DAMs across the 23 included studies. Reference methods for each estimated variable were: (a) Body circumferences-tape measure; (b) body mass-calibrated scale; (c) body length-stadiometer; (d) BV-Underwater Weighing; (e) percentage of body fat-Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), BOD POD, 3, 4, and 5-compartment models; (f) fat mass and fat-free mass-DXA, 3 and 4-compartment models; (g) appendicular Lean Mass-DXA. DAMs demonstrated high repeatability and accuracy at a mean level in most studies. However, their accuracy is lower at individual-level analysis and for tracking changes over time. Estimated BV showed high accuracy compared to UWW (SEE = 0.68; MD = 0.04 to 0.1; LoA = 2.86), including the BV-derived DAMs integrated into alternative multi-compartment models compared to reference methods. As relatively new methods, DAMs offer numerous possibilities and areas for exploration in future studies. However, caution is advised due to their potentially low or unknown accuracy at the individual level.

First Page

809

Last Page

826

DOI

10.1038/s41430-025-01613-1

Rights

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2025

Recommended Citation

da Encarnação, Irismar Gonçalves Almeida; Cerqueira, Matheus Santos; Almeida, Paulo Henrique Ribeiro Fernandes; de Oliveira, Cláudia Eliza Patrocínio; de Almeida Silva, Analiza Mónica Lopes; Silva, Diego Augusto Santos; Heymsfield, Steven B.; and Moreira, Osvaldo Costa, "Comparing digital anthropometrics from mobile applications to reference methods: a scoping review" (2025). LSU-LCMC Cancer Center Faculty Publications. 116.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/llcc_facpubs/116
10.1038/s41430-025-01613-1