title: Comparison of Body Mass Index by self-reported versus measured height and weight.
abstract: This study compared differences between self-reported and measured height and weight and subsequent Body Mass Index. College students (N=62) were asked to complete a health questionnaire as accurately as possible. Height and weight were self-reported without the knowledge that these variables would be subsequently measured. Self-reported and measured heights, weights, and calculated Body Mass Indexes were statistically compared. Analysis indicated that measured height was significantly less than self-reported height for men, but weight was not significantly different. Calculated Body Mass Index for men was not significantly different, however, self-reported Body Mass Index resulted in placement in the Normal range (18.5 to 24.9) category and measured Body Mass Index placement in the Overweight category (25.0 to 29.9). Women's self-reported and measured heights were not significantly different; however, self-reported weight was significantly less than measured. Further, significantly different Body Mass Indexes were found for women. It was concluded that self-reported height and weight might be viewed with caution in Body Mass Index assessment for convenience samples of college-age subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078, USA. BHJ52@okstate.edu
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: DeBock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires