TY - JOUR
T1 - Accuracy of self-reported heights and weights in a predominately low-income, diverse population living in the USA
AU - Opichka, Kate
AU - Smith, Chery
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2018/11/1
Y1 - 2018/11/1
N2 - Objectives: This study explored the accuracy of self-reported heights and weights and factors associated with self-reported bias in a diverse American sample. Methods: Demographic, self-reported, and measured height and weight data from different studies with the same PI were compiled into one SPSS file and analyzed with paired t-tests to detect differences between self-reported and actual values. Kruskal-Wallis tests followed by pairwise t-tests detected differences among age, ethnicity, sex, income, and education. Stepwise regression analyses were done using anthropometric differences as the dependent variable and age category, sex, and ethnicity as independent variables to explore which variable was most predictive of anthropometric differences. Results: Individuals over-reported height and under-reported weight leading to an under-calculated BMI from self-reported height and weight by 0.6-1 kg/m2. These under-calculations of BMI led to misclassifications of obesity by 3, 6, 8, and 4% for African American, Euro-American, Native American women, and total women, and by 5, 6, 8, and 8% by African American, Euro-American, Native American men, and total men. Older individuals and males over-reported height more than younger individuals and females. African American females over-reported height to a lesser extent than other ethnicities. Asian males over-reported height to a lesser extent than other ethnicities. Conclusions: Self-reported heights and weights lead to invalid results. Most individuals over-report height and under-report weight, resulting in an inaccurate underweight and obesity prevalence. Being misclassified into the incorrect BMI category could result in inappropriate healthcare treatment. Age, ethnicity, and sex appear to influence the misreporting of height and weight.
AB - Objectives: This study explored the accuracy of self-reported heights and weights and factors associated with self-reported bias in a diverse American sample. Methods: Demographic, self-reported, and measured height and weight data from different studies with the same PI were compiled into one SPSS file and analyzed with paired t-tests to detect differences between self-reported and actual values. Kruskal-Wallis tests followed by pairwise t-tests detected differences among age, ethnicity, sex, income, and education. Stepwise regression analyses were done using anthropometric differences as the dependent variable and age category, sex, and ethnicity as independent variables to explore which variable was most predictive of anthropometric differences. Results: Individuals over-reported height and under-reported weight leading to an under-calculated BMI from self-reported height and weight by 0.6-1 kg/m2. These under-calculations of BMI led to misclassifications of obesity by 3, 6, 8, and 4% for African American, Euro-American, Native American women, and total women, and by 5, 6, 8, and 8% by African American, Euro-American, Native American men, and total men. Older individuals and males over-reported height more than younger individuals and females. African American females over-reported height to a lesser extent than other ethnicities. Asian males over-reported height to a lesser extent than other ethnicities. Conclusions: Self-reported heights and weights lead to invalid results. Most individuals over-report height and under-report weight, resulting in an inaccurate underweight and obesity prevalence. Being misclassified into the incorrect BMI category could result in inappropriate healthcare treatment. Age, ethnicity, and sex appear to influence the misreporting of height and weight.
KW - BMI misclassification
KW - adults
KW - self-reported height
KW - self-reported weight
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U2 - 10.1002/ajhb.23184
DO - 10.1002/ajhb.23184
M3 - Article
C2 - 30329190
AN - SCOPUS:85055178942
SN - 1042-0533
VL - 30
JO - American Journal of Human Biology
JF - American Journal of Human Biology
IS - 6
M1 - e23184
ER -