A 3D body visualizer that hides which numbers are estimates fails the fourth of the 7 checks.
A 3D body visualizer is worth using when its figure follows the numbers and the tool says which numbers are its own guesses. There are 7 things to check, and each takes under a minute.
| Check | What to look for | In the 3D body visualizer on this site |
|---|---|---|
| Inputs | Height, weight and tape measurements | Height, weight and 13 measurements |
| Units | Metric and US or UK units | cm and kg, ft and lb, or stone |
| Both sexes | A female and a male figure | One switch between the two |
| Estimates | A label on every number the tool guessed | Each row says estimated or set by you |
| Comparison | Two bodies in one view | Side by side or overlaid |
| Privacy | Where the numbers go | Worked out in the browser, not sent to a server |
| Limits | A plain statement of what the figure is not | Not a scan, a photo or a prediction |
1. Inputs
Check that the tool takes more than height and weight. Two people of the same height and weight can have different waists, and only a tape measurement tells the tool which body is meant. The figure with its tape lines on takes 13 measurements.
2. Units
Check that the tool works in the units on the tape and the scale at hand. A tool that takes only centimeters forces a conversion, and every conversion is a chance for a mistake.
3. Both sexes
Check for a female and a male figure. The same height and weight are carried differently by each, so one figure cannot stand for both.
4. Estimates
Check that the tool marks its guesses. A figure from height and weight alone is mostly estimated, and a good tool says so for each number.
5. Comparison
Check that 2 bodies fit in one view. A change of 5 kg is hard to judge from memory and easy to see when two bodies stand side by side.
6. Privacy
Check where the numbers go. A tool that draws in the browser has no need to send a body to a server. Phone tools that work from photos have to handle those photos somewhere, and their privacy pages say where.
7. Limits
Check that the tool states what its figure is not. The CDC notes that BMI does not distinguish between fat, muscle and bone mass, and a figure built from weight carries the same blind spot. A tool that promises a picture of a person's future body promises more than a model can give.
The 3D body visualizer on this site can be put through all 7 checks without an account. On a phone, the 3D body visualizer app page gives the steps to keep the tool on the home screen. The guide on what a 3D body scan is covers the hardware alternative.