title: Testing the Utility of a Data-Driven Approach for Assessing BMI from Face Images.
abstract: Several lines of evidence suggest that facial cues of adiposity may be important for human social interaction. However, tests for quantifiable cues of body mass index (BMI) in the face have examined only a small number of facial proportions and these proportions were found to have relatively low predictive power. Here we employed a data-driven approach in which statistical models were built using principal components (PCs) derived from objectively defined shape and color characteristics in face images. The predictive power of these models was then compared with models based on previously studied facial proportions (perimeter-to-area ratio, width-to-height ratio, and cheek-to-jaw width). Models based on 2D shape-only PCs, color-only PCs, and 2D shape and color PCs combined each performed significantly and substantially better than models based on one or more of the previously studied facial proportions. A non-linear PC model considering both 2D shape and color PCs was the best predictor of BMI. These results highlight the utility of a "bottom-up", data-driven approach for assessing BMI from face images.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, DTU Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolffhechel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, DTU Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jarmer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Claire I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Benedict C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: DeBruine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult