graphics programming - What techniques could I use to give players the ability to control certain features, e.g. fatness?

I'm working on a tool for character customization (e.g. starting from a base model, a player can control his fatness), so I'm looking for ideas, techniques or other regarding this topic.

After some research I thought to this technique: starting from two models (one standard human and one fat human, both with the same data, like vertices and triangles), then creating a new model by storing data about the two original mesh (e.g. store vertex data of the second mesh as color data), and controlling their interpolation with a shader.

What do you think about this idea? Suggestions?

Answer

You might want to have a look at Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, in particular the character creation screen. They do a lot with modifiable anatomies there. Each race has its own anthropometric norms and ranges. Anthropometrics is the study of the particular measurements / proportions of individual physical characteristics (phenotypes) of individual human beings, comparatively speaking. It's a good place to start doing some research into exactly what varies between individuals.

Your idea sounds good, although I think simply interpolating between just two meshes may not give you enough variation.