Body Shape Assessment Scale: Instrument Development Foranalyzing Female Figures

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to use experts' knowledge to develop a set of scales to assess female body shapes as visualized in body scans, resulting in an instrument that could be applied through software to the analysis of body scan data. Using 42 body scans representing women aged 20-55 years of age, through a series of steps, researchers developed nine scalesfor body shape assessmentfrom front and side views. Three (Body Build, Body Shape, and Posture) were for whole body analysis, and six (Front Torso Shape, Hip Shape, Shoulder Slope, Bust Shape, Buttocks Shape, Back Curvature) were for analysis of component body parts. For validation, five experts used the Body Shape Assessment Scale (BSAS©) to rate 100 additional body scans. These ratings were used to program software to classify female body scan data using the BSAS©.