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Self-Reported vs. Measured Height, Weight, and BMI in Young Adults

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  • Melissa D. Olfert

    (Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Department of Animal & Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural Science Building, G025, West Virginia University, 333 Evansdale Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Makenzie L. Barr

    (Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Department of Animal & Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural Science Building, G025, West Virginia University, 333 Evansdale Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Camille M. Charlier

    (Clinical & Translational Science, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Oluremi A. Famodu

    (Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Department of Animal & Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural Science Building, G025, West Virginia University, 333 Evansdale Dr., Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Wenjun Zhou

    (Business Analytics and Statistics, University of Tennessee, 916 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996-0532, USA)

  • Anne E. Mathews

    (Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110370, 359 FSHN Bldg., 572 Newell Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611-0370, USA)

  • Carol Byrd-Bredbenner

    (Nutritional Sciences Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Sarah E. Colby

    (Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 1215 W Cumberland Ave, 229 Jesse Harris Building, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

Abstract

Self-reported height and weight, if accurate, provide a simple and economical method to track changes in body weight over time. Literature suggests adults tend to under-report their own weight and that the gap between self-reported weight and actual weight increases with obesity. This study investigates the extent of discrepancy in self-reported height, weight, and subsequent Body Mass Index (BMI) versus actual measurements in young adults. Physically measured and self-reported height and weight were taken from 1562 students. Male students marginally overestimated height, while females were closer to target. Males, on average, closely self-reported weight. Self-reported anthropometrics remained statistically correlated to actual measures in both sexes. Categorical variables of calculated BMI from both self-reported and actual height and weight resulted in significant agreement for both sexes. Researcher measured BMI (via anthropometric height and weight) and sex were both found to have association with self-reported weight while only sex was related to height difference. Regression examining weight difference and BMI was significant, specifically with a negative slope indicating increased BMI led to increased underestimation of weight in both sexes. This study suggests self-reported anthropometric measurements in young adults can be used to calculate BMI for weight classification purposes. Further investigation is needed to better assess self-reported vs measured height and weight discrepancies across populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa D. Olfert & Makenzie L. Barr & Camille M. Charlier & Oluremi A. Famodu & Wenjun Zhou & Anne E. Mathews & Carol Byrd-Bredbenner & Sarah E. Colby, 2018. "Self-Reported vs. Measured Height, Weight, and BMI in Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2216-:d:174766
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ruxing Wu & Bingqian Zhu & Rongfeng Chen & Liqun Chen & Runan Chen & Daqiao Zhu, 2021. "Weight Perception Measured by Verbal Descriptions and Visual Descriptions: Which Measurement Correlates with Weight Loss Intentions among Female Nursing Students?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Timotheus B. Darikwa & Samuel O. Manda, 2020. "Spatial Co-Clustering of Cardiovascular Diseases and Select Risk Factors among Adults in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Makenzie L. Barr & Jade McNamara, 2022. "Community-Based Participatory Research: Partnering with College Students to Develop a Tailored, Wellness-Focused Intervention for University Campuses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Rasa Jankauskiene & Migle Baceviciene & Simona Pajaujiene & Dana Badau, 2019. "Are Adolescent Body Image Concerns Associated with Health-Compromising Physical Activity Behaviours?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-13, April.
    5. Brena Barreto Barbosa & Lucca Nielsen & Breno Souza de Aguiar & Marcelo Antunes Failla & Larissa Fortunato Araújo & Larissa Loures Mendes & Soraia Pinheiro Machado & Antonio Augusto Ferreira Carioca, 2023. "Local Food Environment and Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods: Cross-Sectional Data from the Nutritionists’ Health Study—NutriHS," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-16, September.

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