Validity of self-reported weight and stature of American Indian youth

Stature, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were obtained by self-reports and by measurements for 69 American Indian youth, 12-19 years of age, to determine the validity of self-reported values for research and clinical use. Self-reported weight was significantly less than measured weight by 2.64 kg and 2.76 kg for boys and girls, respectively. There was no systematic bias in self-reported stature in either sex. BMI based on self-reported values was significantly less than measured BMI by about 1 kg/m2 in each sex. Reporting errors for weight and BMI were related to measured size, with the greatest underestimates at the highest values of measured weight and BMI. If the patterns observed in this sample exist more widely, self-reported measures may not be acceptable proxies for measured values.