L I Vailas1, S A Nitzke. 1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. lvailas@uh.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-reported weight and height are used to compute ponderal indices in studies where it is impractical to obtain objectively measured data. Little is known about the associations between self-reported and measured weight and height in older adults. METHODS: Participants in congregate and home-delivered meal programs in a rural Wisconsin county recorded their height and weight on a questionnaire as part of a study on nutritional risk and quality of life. Objective measurements of height and weight were made on the same day. Data for 131 subjects, ranging in age from 62-92 years, were analyzed to evaluate associations between self-reported and measured weights and heights. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between self-reported and measured values suggested that self-reported weight was somewhat more valid than self-reported height in this population. However, self-reported weight was misreported by 10 pounds or more in 20% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: More data are needed to evaluate the utility of self-reported data for weight and height in groups of older people. Judging from this study, self-reported height and weight data, if used at all for older adults, should only be used as a continuous variable rather than for classifying subjects into relative weight categories.
BACKGROUND: Self-reported weight and height are used to compute ponderal indices in studies where it is impractical to obtain objectively measured data. Little is known about the associations between self-reported and measured weight and height in older adults. METHODS:Participants in congregate and home-delivered meal programs in a rural Wisconsin county recorded their height and weight on a questionnaire as part of a study on nutritional risk and quality of life. Objective measurements of height and weight were made on the same day. Data for 131 subjects, ranging in age from 62-92 years, were analyzed to evaluate associations between self-reported and measured weights and heights. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between self-reported and measured values suggested that self-reported weight was somewhat more valid than self-reported height in this population. However, self-reported weight was misreported by 10 pounds or more in 20% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: More data are needed to evaluate the utility of self-reported data for weight and height in groups of older people. Judging from this study, self-reported height and weight data, if used at all for older adults, should only be used as a continuous variable rather than for classifying subjects into relative weight categories.
Authors: Frances Shiely; Ivan J Perry; Jennifer Lutomski; Janas Harrington; C Cecily Kelleher; Hannah McGee; Kevin Hayes Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2010-09-17 Impact factor: 3.295