Anthropometry and Body Fat Inconsistencies

Scans can have minor variations based on posture, clothing, and even deepness of breath.

Fit3D uses anthropometry to assess body fat percentage and the reality is that human bodies are malleable.

Humans can affect chest and waist measurements by multiple inches based simply on the deepness of breath and posture. Furthermore, clothing such as a bra's tightness, lift, separation, how it affects the skin of the back, etc. may affect anthropometric measurements. In each of these cases, the measurements are accurate but could be different because of variations in clothing worn, posture, and even timing in the menstrual cycle.

Below are just some examples of how, when a client attempts to be perfect and use the same pose every time, there are still variations. These are expected and we encourage you to simply consider that when the variations are minor, that these might be reflected in minor differences in measurements and wellness metrics.




Waist, torso volume, chest (including bust and under-bust), as well as many other measurements are used in body fat percentage calculations.

Body fat percentage is calculated as fat mass divided by total mass, so if the user noticeably lowers their total mass, while the fat mass remains the same, the user's BF% will increase. Even if they are actually losing fat mass in most cases individuals will lose muscle mass at a higher rate which will read as increased BF%.

In short, fat mass decreases more slowly than other types of mass in your body, which may result in a higher BF%. On a longer timeframe, you should see both of these values start to decrease.

We understand that consistency is a very necessary aspect for using our systems in the real world. We go to great lengths to ensure that you understand the data you are acquiring by taking a 3D body scan. We continuously work to improve our system including hardware, software, and algorithms while working with reputable research partners like UCSF, LSU, Mount Sinai, etc. We also publish our findings to ensure that the information is available for those who want to look deeper.