Validity of overweight and obesity in a nation based on self-report versus measurement device data.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze overweight and obesity in a nation by self-report (SR) data and by data about the target person provided via other household members compared to measurement devices (MD). The magnitude of hypothesized under-reporting by the SR data should be estimated with adjustment for age, gender, and education.


METHODS
Two cross-sectional studies, nationally representative health examination surveys (response rates: 61.4 and 73.2%, respectively).


METHODS
Adult general population of Germany aged 20-79 years.


METHODS
Sample 1 included 6806 residents. Samples 2 (n=98 673) and 3 (n=34 960) included residents in the second survey.


METHODS
In sample 1 MD data were collected, in sample 2 SR data were collected, and in sample 3 body weight and height information was provided from another household member living together with the target person.


RESULTS
MD data revealed higher proportions of overweight and obesity compared to SR. Among women with body mass index (BMI) 35.00 or higher, the odds ratio (OR) was 3.9 (95% confidence interval, CI, 3.2-4.7), and among men 2.8 (CI, 2.2-3.6) for MD versus SR. Data from other household members also revealed higher proportions of overweight and obesity than SR (OR for BMI 35.00 or higher 2.1, CI, 1.7-2.5, for data from other household members versus SR in women and OR 1.3, CI, 1.1-1.5, in men).


CONCLUSIONS
MD data should be used when providing proportions of overweight and obesity in a nation such as Germany.
John
U
U
Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. ujohn@uni-greifswald.de
Hanke
M
M
Grothues
J
J
Thyrian
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012650:Self Disclosure; D017678:Sex Distribution