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Updated: May 28, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Can self-reported height and weight be relied upon?

K Lois¹, S Kumar, N Williams

¹Warwick Medical School, Warwick, UK. k.lois@warwick.ac.uk

Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)

|October 11, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Self-reported height and weight measurements are unreliable for workplace health promotion, particularly for men. While women

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Area of Science:

Occupational Health
Anthropometry
Public Health Interventions

Background:

Workplace health promotion campaigns often rely on self-reported anthropometric data.
Accurate body mass index (BMI) and measurements are crucial for effective health assessments.
Previous research has indicated potential inaccuracies in self-reported health data.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the reliability of self-reported height, weight, and BMI in a workplace setting.
To determine if self-reported anthropometric data can be utilized for health promotion initiatives.

Main Methods:

Volunteers measured their own height, weight, and waist circumference (WC).
Self-reported values were statistically compared against direct, objective measurements.
Accuracy was assessed using simple and percentage differences, analyzed across age and BMI classes.

Main Results:

Men and the overall group tended to underestimate BMI by overestimating height and underestimating weight.
Women generally provided more accurate self-reports than men, especially those with central obesity (WC >80 cm).
Males over 40 years old specifically underestimated their body weight.

Conclusions:

Self-reported anthropometric measurements demonstrate significant inaccuracies, particularly in males.
The reliability of self-reported data is influenced by the actual anthropometric values.
While women's self-reports appear more reliable, further research with larger female cohorts is recommended.