title: Intrarater reliability and the value of real change for waist and hip circumference measures by a novice rater.
abstract: Intrarater reliability and measurement error associated with waist and hip circumference measures performed by a novice rater with one measurement were examined and compared among Body Mass Index (BMI) subgroups in a convenience sample of 76 participants (25 men, 51 women; M age = 47.2 yr., SD = 14.2). A rater blinded to the purpose of the study, as well as to the tape measure results, received training and then performed hip and waist circumference measures twice with a 10-min. interval. Intrarater reliability of the measures was acceptable (ICC3,1 > .95) across the BMI subgroups; measurement error was found to be greater in the overweight and obese subgroups. If a test-retest change score is greater than 3.0 cm in waist circumference and 2.0 cm in hip circumference, it can be assumed to be a true change with 95% confidence.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, Center for Education and Research on Geriatrics and Gerontology, Chung Shan Medical University, Physical Therapy Room, Taichung City, Taiwan. cywang@csmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Ching-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yueh-Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015588:Observer Variation; D050177:Overweight / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D011361:Professional Competence; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*