Validity of the body mass index silhouette matching test.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the construct validity and utility of the Body Mass Index Silhouette Matching Test (BMI-SMT).


METHODS
One-hundred-seventy undergraduate students at a mid-Atlantic university completed the BMI-SMT, the Gardner 2-figure Silhouette Matching Test and were measured for height and weight.


RESULTS
Validity coefficients using Pearson r correlations ranged from 0.69 to 0.84 for comparisons between BMI values for the BMI-SMT, and the GSMT and actual BMI measures. Coefficients for weight values produced r-values ranging from 0.59 to 0.84. Analysis of the BMI-SMT ability to accurately assess weight classification indicated a tendency toward overestimation.


CONCLUSIONS
The BMI-SMT is a valid measure of body image perceptions and estimates of weight and BMI.
Peterson
Michael
M
023 Carpenter Sports Building, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. pmpeter@udel.edu
Orsega-Smith
Elizabeth
E
Tholstrup
Linda
L
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012928:Social Desirability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires