title: Comparison of measured and self-reported anthropometric information among firefighters: implications and applications.
abstract: This study evaluated the accuracy of self-reported body weight and height compared to measured values among firefighters and identified factors associated with reporting error. A total of 863 male and 88 female firefighters in four US regions participated in the study. The results showed that both men and women underestimated their body weight ( - 0.4 ± 4.1, - 1.1 ± 3.6 kg) and overestimated their height (29 ± 18 , 17 ± 16 mm). Women underestimated more than men on weight (p = 0.022) and men overestimated more than women on height (p < 0.001). Reporting errors on weight were increased with overweight status (p < 0.001) and were disproportionate among subgroups. About 27% men and 24% women had reporting errors on weight greater than ± 2.2 kg, and 59% men and 28% women had reporting errors on height greater than 25 mm.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) , Morgantown , WV , USA.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whitestone
authors.forename: Tsui-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kau
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whisler
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anthropometry; firefighter; height; obesity; self-reported; weight