Abstract
BackgroundAccessible public information on self-reported height and weight is not widely used in studies of obesity, mainly because of the questionable validity of body mass index (BMI) values calculated from these data. To assess the utility of self-reported measurement, we compared self-reported and standard measurements of height and weight in a Korean population that is leaner than Western populations.MethodsA cross-sectional comparison of self-reported and measured height and weight was conducted among a population of participants in a cancer screening program. A total of 557 men and 1010 women aged 30 to 70 years were included in the current analysis.ResultsSelf-reported height was higher than measured values in both men and women. Self-reported weight was higher than measured weight in women, but was not different in men. BMI calculated from measured values was higher than BMI derived from self-reported height and weight among men. Younger age was a predictor of accuracy in self-reported height, and higher weight and BMI were predictors of under-reporting of weight. The prevalence of obesity based on self-reported values was lower than the true prevalence of obesity. With respect to classifying individuals as obese, the specificity and sensitivity of BMI calculated from self-reported values were very high for both sexes.ConclusionsSelf-reported height and weight were reasonably valid in this study population.
Highlights
Height and weight are the most commonly used anthropometric measurements in clinical practice and research, and are of interest in epidemiological studies, both as primary exposures and as potential confounding variables
Self-reported height was higher than measured height by 0.41 cm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27–0.55) in men and 0.51 cm (0.39–0.63) in women
body mass index (BMI) calculated using measured height and weight was higher than that calculated using self-reported values: the mean difference was −0.08 kg/m2 (−0.14 to −0.02) in men and −0.05 kg/m2 (−0.11 to 0.01) for women
Summary
Height and weight are the most commonly used anthropometric measurements in clinical practice and research, and are of interest in epidemiological studies, both as primary exposures and as potential confounding variables. Height and weight are common, straightforward components of nutritional status assessments because they are strong predictors of functional impairment, morbidity, and mortality. Body mass index (BMI) is calculated from height and weight and can be used to assess nutritional status and overall health outcomes such as obesity. Accessible public information on self-reported height and weight is not widely used in studies of obesity, mainly because of the questionable validity of body mass index (BMI) values calculated from these data. Results: Self-reported height was higher than measured values in both men and women. BMI calculated from measured values was higher than BMI derived from self-reported height and weight among men. Younger age was a predictor of accuracy in self-reported height, and higher weight and BMI were predictors of under-reporting of weight. Conclusions: Self-reported height and weight were reasonably valid in this study population
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