The effect of liraglutide on body weight among binge eating obese non-diabetic subjects

Abstract

Web-based approaches are a commonly used medium to deliver weight management and health behaviour programs and for monitoring weight change. However, few studies have validated online self-reported height and weight data and no studies to date have attempted to validate this self-report data within an Australian population. This study aimed to validate height and weight data self-reported via an online survey compared to objectively measured data in young Australian adults. A total of 117 predominantly female (79.5%) participants with a mean age of 24.4± 3.9 years (range 18—35 years) from a range of weight categories mean 24.2± 5.6 kg/m2 (range 16.3—53 kg/m2) selfreported their current height and weight within an online cross-sectional survey. Within one month of completing the survey, the height, weight and body composition of weight-stable volunteers was measured by trained assessors. Paired t-tests were used to determine differences between the two measures. Self-reported height (169.4± 8.9 cm) was found to be significantly higher than measured height (168.0± 8.4 cm, mean difference = 1.36± 1.93 cm, p < 0.001). Self-reported weight (68.0± 17.4 kg) was significantly lower than measured weight (68.5± 17.6 kg, mean difference =−0.55± 2.03 kg, p = 0.004). Additionally, BMI calculated from selfreported height and weight was significantly lower than measured BMI (−0.56± 0.08 kg/m2, p < 0.0001). When grouped by BMI category, self-reported and measured weight did not differ significantly in healthy weight participants (difference =−0.31 kg, p = 0.07) but remained significantly underreported in overweight/obese (difference =−1.36 kg, p = 0.02). Self-reported height was significantly overestimated and self-reported weight was significantly underestimated by the study participants. When controlling for weight category, underreporting of weight was driven by overweight/obese participants. Despite these measures being statistically significant, the magnitude of differences is small. Our findings suggest that online self-reported height and weight can be a valid method of collecting anthropometric data. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to support the current findings.