Select Research to develop new obesity measure

A UK research firm is working towards a new obesity measurement, as an alternative to the long-established Body Mass Index (BMI).

BMI, based on a simple calculation of a person's weight and height, is the standard body measurement used worldwide. But with obesity on the rise in Western countries, there is demand in the medical world for a more sophisticated measure, taking into account body shape, and where in the body fat is stored.

The Body Benchmark Study, being conducted by Birmingham-based Select Research, will use 3D body scanning technology to produce a Body Volume Index (BVI), as a better indicator of obesity and other health risks.

The study will look at the body volume of at least 20,000 volunteers in the UK and US over the next two years.

Select is working with five healthcare research facilities and hospitals in Europe and the US, and has also secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

The firm also used body scanning for a government commissioned review of UK clothing sizes in 2002, having previously conducted a series of sizing surveys for retailer Marks & Spencer.

Select's managing director Richard Barnes told Research: “There was all this acceptance that BMI didn't work but no opportunity for an alternative. We said let's start with the assumption that everyone's individual shape is different.”

The study will look at how factors such as age, ethnic origin, gender and medical history can be taken into account to produce more effective assessments of risk.

As well as identifying health risks, Barnes said the new index could be used to set dosages for medication, and for ergonomic design.

He said the high cost of the scanners is offset by the savings from manual data processing – and with obesity treatment estimated to cost the UK £3.6bn by 2010, Barnes believes it is a worthwhile investment. “It takes six seconds to scan someone, it's completely safe and in health care terms, very cheap,” he said.

Author: Robert Bain