Self-reported versus measured height, weight and body mass index amongst 16-17 year old British teenagers.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationships between reported and measured height and weight in a teenage population group, and to assess the impact this may have on estimates of overweight.


METHODS
Data were taken from a sample of teenagers from the 1970 Birth Cohort Study. Multivariate normal regression was used to model differences between self-reported and measured height and weight, using both BMI and a number of other personal and demographic variables to examine influences on reporting differences.


RESULTS
Tall, thin individuals were more likely to under-report their height and shorter, fatter individuals to overestimate their height and under-estimate their weight. Self-reported height and weight data when used to calculate BMI would result in a lower estimate of overweight teenagers. Self-assessment of body fatness, (but no other personal or demographic variable), was influential on the height and weight reporting of females in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported height and weight data from a teenage population should be used with caution, particularly if classifying individuals by BMI or when using weight measurements to estimate energy requirements.
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D006113:United Kingdom