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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Self-reported weight and height for evaluating obesity control programs
Satvinder S Dhaliwal1, Peter Howat, Thaila Bejoy
1School of Public Health, Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute and Australian Technology Network Centre for Metabolic Fitness, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. s.dhaliwal@curtin.edu.au
Objectives:
To assess the adequacy of self-reported weight and height as indicators for BMI in community-based obesity control programs.
Methods:
Self-reported and measured weight and height and calculated BMI in 6979 adults were assessed using analysis of covariance.
Results:
Prevalence of obesity (BMI > 25 kg/m(2)) and overweight (25-29.9 kg/m(2)) was lower using self-reported values by 3.2% and 5.0%, respectively. Females underreported BMI more than males did; and older subjects, more than younger subjects.
Conclusions:
Self-reported weight and height measurements may be used for the evaluation of community-based obesity control programs with the application of correction factors. This will minimize costs associated with physical measurements.
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