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Observational Study
. 2019 Apr;22(6):1019-1028.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980018003002. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Accuracy of self-reported weight in the Women's Health Initiative

Juhua Luo  1 , Cynthia A Thomson  2 , Michael Hendryx  3 , Lesley F Tinker  4 , JoAnn E Manson  5 , Yueyao Li  1 , Dorothy A Nelson  6 , Mara Z Vitolins  7 , Rebecca A Seguin  8 , Charles B Eaton  9 , Jean Wactawski-Wende  10 , Karen L Margolis  11
Affiliations
Observational Study

Accuracy of self-reported weight in the Women's Health Initiative

Juhua Luo et al. Public Health Nutr. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the extent of error present in self-reported weight data in the Women's Health Initiative, variables that may be associated with error, and to develop methods to reduce any identified error.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Forty clinical centres in the USA.ParticipantsWomen (n 75 336) participating in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS) and women (n 6236) participating in the WHI Long Life Study (LLS) with self-reported and measured weight collected about 20 years later (2013-2014).

Results: The correlation between self-reported and measured weights was 0·97. On average, women under-reported their weight by about 2 lb (0·91 kg). The discrepancies varied by age, race/ethnicity, education and BMI. Compared with normal-weight women, underweight women over-reported their weight by 3·86 lb (1·75 kg) and obese women under-reported their weight by 4·18 lb (1·90 kg) on average. The higher the degree of excess weight, the greater the under-reporting of weight. Adjusting self-reported weight for an individual's age, race/ethnicity and education yielded an identical average weight to that measured.

Conclusions: Correlations between self-reported and measured weights in the WHI are high. Discrepancies varied by different sociodemographic characteristics, especially an individual's BMI. Correction of self-reported weight for individual characteristics could improve the accuracy of assessment of obesity status in postmenopausal women.

Keywords: Accuracy; Measured weight; Self-reported weight; Validation.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(colour online) Relationship between self-reported and measured weights*, with an overall regression line (formula image), among 75 336 women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS). *1 lb=0·454 kg
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(colour online) Bland–Altman difference plot between self-reported and measured weights*, with an overall regression line (formula image), among 75 336 women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS); (formula image) represents the line of no difference. *1 lb=0·454 kg
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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