The Client

Select Research is the leading company in the UK for 3D scanning and sizing surveys.

The Body Volume Index (BVI) is designed to give patients an idea of their risk according to where they store their fat, rather than relying on weight and height measurements, as is the case with the current body mass index (BMI).

At the moment, doctors gauge fatness with a calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI). However, the BMI can be flawed, as it can record people with too much muscle as being overweight (for example a Rugby player).

For this reason, the BVI is seen as a better alternative to the BMI, which calculates overall body mass.

The new measurement was validated as part of the Body Benchmark Study which was set up to develop BVI as a possible long-term alternative new standard to the BMI. The research initiative involved collaboration between several major healthcare research organisations in the US, the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. Other healthcare specialists in child obesity, diabetes, body composition, fat distribution and health risk diagnosis throughout the world have also been involved in the project.

Select contacted Blueberry as it required bespoke analysis software that would allow their new BVI 3D body scanner to:

• Accurately measure the distribution of body weight by body shape
• Provide a user friendly interface suitable for medical practitioners to use
• Present the data in a way which was easy for patients to understand
• Store the scan data in a centralised database which could be used for average measurement comparisons.

Blueberry designed an application for the BVI body Scanner to be used as the main user interface for the system.

The 3D Body Measurement Volume software features:

• Automatic Measurement definitions for Total Body Volume, BMI, Waist to Hip and Waist Circumference.
• Measurement definitions for Part Body Volume to allow for volume definition of Central/Abdominal Obesity and other body sections.
• Pre-determined volume measurements for baseline analysis against BMI.
• Manual measurement via interactive software tool.
• Customised print output for patients.

The system includes an integral database with full search facilities, which stores scan measurements and images for each patient, as well as the ability to view and compare historical data.

Raw scan data is captured for each patient by the scanner software, which is also installed on the PC. This raw data is processed, converted into a 3D image, and then used to calculate values such as waist and hip measurements.

The 3D model is analysed by the software and the volume for each body section - arms, legs, abdomen etc - is displayed. The variance of each measurement against the national average for that gender, age range and ethnic background can also be displayed.

• The data captured from each scan is sent anonymously to the central database via a web services interface for measurement against stored broad generic categories.
• The data can then be used by the PC application to provide a baseline average measurement for each scan. These averages are displayed alongside the patient’s actual data.

With the BVI system, it is possible to produce a realistic illustration of body shape change over a period of time using a sequence of scans captured from the patient. Additional medical record data, such as height, weight and blood pressure can also be manually added to each scan.

Finally, a printout of the scan, complete with all relevant medical data, is made available as a permanent record for the patient.

The Body Volume Index is the world’s first dedicated obesity measurement standard which uses a quick, safe and cost effective white-light method of measurement, allowing it to be operated by non-radiology hospital staff, without the need for medical training.

BVI enables healthcare professionals to differentiate between patients with the same BMI rating by taking other healthcare factors such as age, gender and ethnicity into account.

The system carries out 20 readings a second to produce a comprehensive view of a person's body and provides:

• A definitive 3D body map of a patient so that data can be tracked for patient analysis.
• Body volume and part volumes of an individual to allow differentiation between patients with the same BMI rating.
• Health statistics (such as blood results, body fat content and distribution of body weight by body part) which can be aligned to a person’s individual shape. These can provide a health risk indicator and predictive clinical diagnosis tool.

BVI has been validated through the two-year Body Benchmark Study, a collaborative project between healthcare research facilities across the world and the results were launched to the world in October 2010 (see www.bodyvolume.com). There are now over 90,000 websites worldwide with information about BVI and the new measurement is currently under public health review for possible long-term implementation.