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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Self-reported and measured height and weight in adolescents]
B Landsberg1, I Bastian, S Plachta-Danielzik
1Institut für Humanernährung und Lebensmittelkunde, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the validity of self-reported height and weight and resulting body-mass-index (BMI) in adolescents, to identify influencing factors and to generate appropriate algorithms for the correction of self-reported values.
Methods:
In the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS) height and weight were assessed in 2,706 12- to 17-year-old adolescents by self-report and by measurements. Differences between self-reported and measured values were calculated. Algorithms for correction of self-reported data were generated in a random sample (n=941) and validated in another random sample (n=946).
Results:
Overestimation of height and underestimation of weight resulted in a remarkable underestimation of BMI. Girls underestimated BMI more than boys (-0.8±1.0 kg/m² vs. -0.4±1.1 kg/m²; p<0.01), overweight adolescents underestimated more than normal weight adolescents (boys: -1.4±1.4 kg/m² vs. -0.3±0.9 kg/m²; p<0.01; girls:-1.6±1.3 kg/m² vs. -0.7±0.8 kg/m²; p<0.01). Prevalence of overweight and obesity was underestimated by 2.0% and 1.5%, respectively, in boys and by 2.2% and 2.0%, respectively in girls. Differences between self-reported and measured values were influenced by gender and weight status. Correction of self-reported data resulted in approaching the valid overweight prevalence. However, underestimations persisted.
Conclusions:
Self-reported height, weight and BMI calculated from these values are discrepant from measured data and cause underestimation of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents. Correction of self-reported values is possible. However, valid data can only be assessed by measurements of height and weight.
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The estimate for the mean of a sample is denoted by ͞x, whereas the mean of the population is designated as μ. Further, parameters such as the mean,...

