Self-assessment of height, weight, and sexual maturation: validity in overweight children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the validity of self-reported height, weight, and sexual maturation ratings among overweight children and adolescents.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 77 overweight children and adolescents (39 girls, 38 boys) aged 8-18 years, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 35.2 +/- 8.9 kg/m2 who visited the Optimal Weight for Life program at Boston Children's Hospital for weight management over a period of six months in 1999. Each patient's weight, height, and sexual maturation ratings were self-reported and measured.


RESULTS
The intra-class correlation coefficients between measured and self-reported weights, heights, and BMI values ranged from .64 to .95 among boys, and from .49 to .84 among girls. The kappa statistics between measured and self-assessed Tanner stage ratings ranged from .21 to .50. The percentages of agreement for breast development and pubic hair ratings among girls were 37.8% and 61.1%, respectively. The percentages of agreement for pubic hair and genitalia ratings among boys were 51.7% and 40.0%, respectively. The self-assessed ratings by boys for pubic hair and genitalia were less likely to be correct with increased measured weight and height (p < .05). Boys aged 15 years or older were more likely to underestimate their pubic hair or genitalia stages than those younger than 15 years of age (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Among overweight children and adolescents aged 8-18 years, this pilot study suggests that self-reports of height, weight, and Tanner stages are not valid proxy measures for a physician's assessment.
Lee
Kayoung
K
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. fmlky@ijnc.inje.ac.kr
Valeria
Benavides
B
Kochman
Colleen
C
Lenders
Carine M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012741:Sexual Maturation