The accuracy of self-reported weights

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Accurate weight data is crucial for epidemiological research and health assessments.
• Self-reported weight is a common method for data collection due to its convenience.
• Variations in self-reported weight accuracy across different populations and settings are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of self-reported weights compared to measured weights.
• To identify factors influencing self-reported weight accuracy, including demographics and study site.
• To determine the potential utility of self-reported weights in large-scale epidemiological investigations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1302 participants across eight sites in the United States and Denmark.
• Comparison of self-reported weight data with objectively measured weight data.
• Analysis of accuracy across various demographic groups (age, sex) and study contexts.

Main Results:

• Self-reported weights demonstrated remarkable accuracy in the American sample across all assessed variables, including individuals with obesity.
• Danish self-reported weights were less accurate overall compared to the American sample.
• In the Danish sample, women over 40 years of age reported weights with lower accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported weights are a reliable data source in the United States for epidemiological studies, potentially reducing the need for direct measurements.
• The accuracy of self-reported weights may vary significantly by country and demographic factors, necessitating careful consideration in international research.
• Further research is recommended to explore reasons for discrepancies in self-reported weight accuracy between different populations.