Measuring the accuracy of self-reported height and weight in a community-based sample of young people

Anna L Bowring, Anna Peeters, Rosanne Freak-Poli, Megan Su Cheng Lim, Maelenn Gouillou, Margaret Elena Hellard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

113 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Self-reported anthropometric data are commonly used to estimate prevalence of obesity in population and community-based studies. We aim to: 1) Determine whether survey participants are able and willing to self-report height and weight; 2) Assess the accuracy of self-reported compared to measured anthropometric data in a community-based sample of young people. Methods: Participants (16--29 years) of a behaviour survey, recruited at a Melbourne music festival (January 2011), were asked to self-report height and weight; researchers independently weighed and measured a sub-sample. Body Mass Index was calculated and overweight/obesity classified as >=25kg/m2. Differences between measured and self-reported values were assessed using paired t-test/Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Accurate report of height and weight were defined as
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1 - 8
Number of pages8
JournalBMC Medical Research Methodology
Volume12
Issue number175
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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