Nutr Res Pract.  2015 Jun;9(3):319-327. 10.4162/nrp.2015.9.3.319.

Validity of self-reported height and weight in elderly Poles

• Niedzwiedzka E
• Dlugosz A
• Wadolowska L

• KMID: 2313846
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2015.9.3.319

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
In nutritional epidemiology, collecting self-reported respondent height and weight is a simpler procedure of data collection than taking measurements. The aim of this study was to compare self-reported and measured height and weight and to evaluate the possibility of using self-reported estimates in the assessment of nutritional status of elderly Poles aged 65 + years.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
The research was carried out in elderly Poles aged 65 + years. Respondents were chosen using a quota sampling. The total sample numbered 394 participants and the sub-sample involved 102 participants. Self-reported weight (non-corrected self-reported weight; non-cSrW) and height estimates (non-corrected self-reported height; non-cSrH) were collected. The measurements of weight (measured weight; mW) and height (measured height; mH) were taken. Using multiple regression equations, the corrected self-reported weight (cSrW) and height (cSrH) estimates were calculated.
RESULTS
Non-cSrH was higher than mH in men on average by 2.4 cm and in women on average by 2.3 cm. In comparison to mW, non-cSrW was higher in men on average by 0.7 kg, while in women no significant difference was found (mean difference of 0.4 kg). In comparison to mBMI, non-cSrBMI was lower on average by 0.6 kg/m2 in men and 0.7 kg/m2 in women. No differences were observed in overweight and obesity incidence when determined by mBMI (68% and 19%, respectively), non-cSrBMI (62% and 14%, respectively), cSrBMI (70% and 22%, respectively) and pcSrBMI (67% and 18%, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Since the results showed that the estimated self-reported heights, weights and BMI were accurate, the assessment of overweight and obesity incidence was accurate as well. The use of self-reported height and weight in the nutritional status assessment of elderly Poles on a population level is therefore recommended. On an individual level, the use of regression equations is recommended to correct self-reported height, particularly in women.

Keyword

Elderly people; self-reported; weight; height; BMI

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Epidemiology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Nutritional Status
Obesity
Overweight
Weights and Measures

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The chart of data collection and study design

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