title: The reliability of in-home measures of height and weight in large cohort studies: Evidence from Add Health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the emergence of obesity as a global health issue an increasing number of major demographic surveys are collecting measured anthropometric data. Yet little is known about the characteristics and reliability of these data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluate the accuracy and reliability of anthropometric data collected in the home during Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), compare our estimates to national standard, clinic-based estimates from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and, using both sources, provide a detailed anthropometric description of young adults in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reliability of Add Health in-home anthropometric measures was estimated from repeat examinations of a random subsample of study participants. A digit preference analysis evaluated the quality of anthropometric data recorded by field interviewers. The adjusted odds of obesity and central obesity in Add Health vs. NHANES were estimated with logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short-term reliabilities of in-home measures of height, weight, waist and arm circumference-as well as derived body mass index (BMI, kg/m2)-were excellent. Prevalence of obesity (37% vs. 29%) and central obesity (47% vs. 38%) was higher in Add Health than in NHANES while socio-demographic patterns of obesity and central obesity were comparable in the two studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Properly trained non-medical field interviewers can collect reliable anthropometric data in a nationwide, home visit study. This national cohort of young adults in the United States faces a high risk of early-onset chronic disease and premature mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Jon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Quynh C
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Whitsel
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Liana J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Carolyn Tucker
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gordon-Larsen
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Joyce W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tabor
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Pamela P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Entzel
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ; Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Kathleen Mullan
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Harris
keywords: BMI; Body Mass Index; Epidemiology; Obesity; Quality Assurance; Waist Circumference