Shapecoder: a new method for visual quantification of body mass index in young children. Issue 2 (29th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, B.‐K. Daniel; Reed, M. P.; Kaciroti, N.; Love, M.; Miller, A. L.; Appugliese, D. P.; Lumeng, J. C.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric obesity. Volume 13:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2016-11-29
• Subjects: Anthropometry -- body image -- obesity; Obesity in children -- Periodicals; Obesity in adolescence -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; Overweight children -- Periodicals; 618.92398
• DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-7174

Abstract

Summary: Background: Few tools exist to quantify body mass index visually. Objective: To examine the inter‐rater reliability and validity (sensitivity and specificity for overweight/obesity and obesity) of a three‐dimensional visual rating system to quantify body mass index (BMI) in young children. Methods: Children ( n = 242, mean age 5.9 years, 50.0% male; 40.5% overweight/ obese) participated in a videotaped protocol and weight and height were measured. Research staff applied a novel three‐dimensional computer‐based figure rating system (shapecoder ) to the child's videotaped image. Inter‐rater reliability was calculated, as well as correlation with measured body mass index (BMI) and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for overweight/obesity and obesity. Results: Inter‐rater reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.98). The correlation ofshapecoder ‐generated BMI with measured BMI was 0.89. For overweight/obesity, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 62%, 97%, 94% and 79% respectively. For obesity, these values were 65%, 99%, 97% and 92% respectively. Conclusion: shapecoder provides a method to quantify child BMI from video images with high inter‐rater reliability, fair sensitivity and good specificity for overweight/obesity and obesity. The approach offers an improvement over existing two‐dimensional rating scales for BMI.