Self-reported Anthropometric Measures Research Articles

Validity and reliability of self-reported weight, height and body mass index from telephone interviews

The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with the validity of self-reported anthropometric measures. The authors selected 726 adults, aged 40 or older, living in the greater metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. Self-reported weights and heights obtained from telephone interviews were compared to values measured directly by means of a multicenter survey. Mean differences (+/-SD) between self-reported and measured weights and heights among men were 0.54 (+/-0.30kg) and 1.98 (+/-0.31cm); while among women, they were -0.48 (+/-0.23kg) and 3.97 (+/-0.28cm), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity to diagnose obesity were 71% and 98% for males, and 78% and 96%, for females, respectively. There was good agreement between measured and self-reported weights and body mass index (BMI) among both sexes, however, self-reported height was less reliable. Self-reported weight and height obtained from telephone interviews are valid to estimate the obesity prevalence in this population, although systematic bias was found. Thus, it is desirable that researchers develop their own equations depending on the population being studied.

Prevalence and awareness of risk factors and behaviours of coronary heart disease in an urban population of Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan: a community survey.

To estimate the prevalence and awareness of risk factors and risk behaviours of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the lower middle class residing in urban localities of Karachi, a mega city of Pakistan. The design consisted of a cross-sectional community based survey in the lower middle class urban localities of Karimabad, Garden and Kharardar in Karachi, Pakistan. One thousand four hundred adults (18 years and above) registered with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) participated in the survey. Life style, self-reported risk variables, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Prevalence of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes were 38.5, 10.7 and 9.1 per cent, respectively. 52.2 per cent of the sample was overweight or obese; 64.8 per cent never exercised; 11.9 per cent had two or more major risk factors of CHD. The communities studied showed a very high prevalence of hypertension, obesity and a sedentary life style. Despite a high literacy rate, awareness regarding CHD risk factors was low. This underlines the need for measures to increase awareness regarding CHD and its risk factors and a healthy lifestyle in the developing countries.

Relationship between quantitative ultrasound, anthropometry and sports participation in college aged adults.

The college years are an opportune timepoint of intervention in the primary prevention of osteoporosis. Physical activity is an important modifiable risk factor, yet national surveys reveal that young people are insufficiently active. To determine patterns of physical activity associated with improved skeletal status at this life stage, we assessed the relationship between self-reported physical activity patterns, grip strength, anthropometric measures, and calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measures in a study of college students (n=235), the Tufts Longitudinal Health Study (TLHS). Univariate analyses revealed several highly significant relationships between QUS parameters and anthropometry, but only among women, with the highest correlation for skeletal muscle mass. Grip strength was significantly related to broadband attenuation (BUA) and stiffness index (SI) in both men and women. Multiple regression analysis revealed that among the modifiable body composition compartments, muscle mass but not fat mass was significantly associated with higher BUA in men (P<0.05) and women (P<0.001), and higher SI in women (P<0.001). Among our sample of college students, current weight training (P=0.004), and moderate (P=0.003) and vigorous (P<0.001) sports participation were each significantly associated with higher SI. Multiple regression analysis revealed that sports participation (moderate and/or vigorous) was associated with higher SI by 10.22+/-3.93 units (P=0.011) among men and 7.28+/-2.36 units (P=0.002) among women. These data suggest that improved skeletal status in young adulthood may require more specific moderate to vigorous physical activity, such as that achieved with sport, than is currently recommended for overall health.

Anthropometric Measurements and Body Silhouette of Women: Validity and Perception

Objective To examine the validity of self-reported values for current anthropometric measurements and factors related to misreporting.Design E3N, a prospective cohort study of cancer risk factors, conducted in France and part of the European Prospective Investigation on Cancer. E3N comprises 100,000 women, born between 1925 and 1950, followed with self-administered questionnaires sent every 18 to 24 months starting in 1990.Subjects 152 women for the validation study of self-reported anthropometric measurements, and 91,815 women selected to evaluate factors affecting misreporting of body silhouette.Statistical analysis Paired ttests, Pearson and Spearman correlations were applied to evaluate the validity of self-reported measures, and analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to assess the factors influencing misreporting of silhouette.Results The correlation coefficients between self- and external measurements were high. All but sitting height (r=0.56) were more than 0.80, with weight and bust (nipples) measurement correlation coefficients attaining 0.94. The correlation between body mass index (BMI), measured by the technician and the self-reported silhouette, was 0.78. Small height was always associated with misclassification. Specific factors related to a more favorable perception of body silhouette were: being overweight, small height, younger age, and a lower level of education. These women were also more frequently unmarried, more physically active, and had a slender body shape during adolescence. Results denoting a less favorable perception of body shape were reversed.Conclusion/Applications Self-reported measurements (made with or without help) are valid measures in epidemio-logical studies. Body silhouettes are simple and useful indicators of body mass index. However they should be interpreted with caution in certain instances, especially for overweight subjects. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:1779-1784.

Body mass index and morbidity in adult males of the War Khasi in Northeast India.

Data on the relationship between obesity, or high body mass index (BMI), and morbidity in adult individuals are frequently reported, but little is known about the relationship between morbidity and low BMI especially in developing countries. The present study was therefore an attempt to evaluate the relationship between BMI and morbidity in adult individuals. The analyses were derived from the data based on self-reported morbidity and anthropometric measurements taken on adult males. The results were presented according to age and income groups for individuals of reporting and non-reporting illness. The total sample size was 575 adult males (18-59 y) of the War Khasi population. Rural area of the state of Meghalaya in Northeast India. : The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) was found to be 35%, although the mean BMI (20.06+/-2.65 kg/m(2)) in individuals of non-reporting illness was higher than in those reported for many populations of Northeast India. The relationship between BMI and reported illness was not significant, although the morbidity curve tended to be U-shaped, and the prevalence of reported illness (32%) was highest in the individuals with BMI below 17.0 kg/m(2). Moreover, the suggested cut-off 18.5 of BMI for screening the prevalence of CED did not correspond with the rise in morbidity, but both BMI and morbidity were significantly associated with age and income of the household. In view of the present analysis and other related literature, BMI is likely to be a better indicator of standards of living than a predictor of illness as the latter may also predispose individuals to the former. Thus, morbidity and low BMI may be considered parts of ill health, which are influenced by a number of biological and environmental factors especially age, economic conditions, undernutrition, safe water sanitation, community pathogens, prevention and control measures of locally endemic diseases and infections.