title: Validity of self-estimated adiposity assessment against general and central adiposity in Hong Kong adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationships between self-estimated adiposity using Stunkard's body silhouette scale with general and central adiposity in adolescents are unclear. This study examines the criterion validity of Stunkard's body silhouette scale as a self-estimated rating of adiposity against anthropometric measures of adiposity and percentage body fat in Hong Kong adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The body composition of 903 adolescents (55.7% boys) was assessed by measured waist circumference (WC), waist-to-stature ratio (WSR), body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (%BF). Self-estimated adiposity was subjectively assessed using Stunkard's body silhouette scale. The association between self-estimated adiposity and body composition was examined by Spearman correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-estimated adiposity correlated significantly and positively with BMI (boys: r = 0.65; girls: r = 0.59), WC (boys: r = 0.62; girls: r = 0.51), WSR (boys: r = 0.55; girls: r = 0.42) and %BF (boys: r = 0.47; girls: r = 0.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-estimated adiposity using the Stunkard's body silhouette scale was positively associated with actual measures of adiposity; however, the association was modest at best. It is unlikely that the Stunkard's body silhouette scale provides a suitably accurate substitute for actual body composition measures in Chinese adolescents.
authors: Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Kwok-Kei
authors: KK
authors: Mak
authors: Alison M
authors: AM
authors: McManus
authors: Ching-Man
authors: CM
authors: Lai
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D044466:Asian People; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055105:Waist Circumference