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. 2012:9:E119.
doi: 10.5888/pcd9.120021. Epub 2012 Jun 28.

Accuracy of self-reported height and weight in children aged 6 to 11 years

Jimikaye Beck  1 , Christine A Schaefer, Heidi Nace, Alana D Steffen, Claudio Nigg, Lois Brink, James O Hill, Raymond C Browning
Affiliations

Accuracy of self-reported height and weight in children aged 6 to 11 years

Jimikaye Beck et al. Prev Chronic Dis. 2012.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of first-, third-, and fifth-graders to accurately self-report height and weight. Self-reported and measured values for height and weight were recorded for 487 students. The ability to self-report a reasonable value for height and weight improved with grade level, but children in all 3 grade levels significantly underreported their height and weight. Only fifth-graders accurately self-reported their weight; therefore, using self-reported height and weight to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity for elementary school-aged children is not recommended.

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Figures

Data on this scatter plot demonstrate that accuracy of self-reported weight decreased as BMI z score increased
Figure
Measured BMI z score and percentage difference between self-reported and measured weight. Data on the scatter plot demonstrate that accuracy of self-reported weight decreased as BMI z score increased. A negative value for the percentage difference between weight indicates an underestimation of weight. For example, a child who weighs 30 kg but self-reported 27 kg is indicated by a −10% difference between the measured and self-reported weight. Solid line represents the linear regression fit. Weight % difference = −0.0757 − (0.0353 × BMIz); r 2 = 0.061; P < .001. Abbreviation: BMI, body mass index.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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