Long-term memory of body weight and past weight satisfaction: a longitudinal follow-up study

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 53; no. 6; pp. 1493 - 1498
• Main Authors: Casey, VA, Dwyer, JT, Berkey, CS, Coleman, KA, Gardner, J, Valadian, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.06.1991; American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Subjects: accuracy; age; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; body weight satisfaction; education; Educational Status; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; longitudinal study; Male; Memory; men; Middle Aged; Personal Satisfaction; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; recall; Regression Analysis; Self representation; Sex Factors; weight satisfaction; women; Massachusetts; longitudinal study; weight satisfaction; Body weight; recall; Human; Follow up study; Memory; Satisfaction; Sex; Self image; Long term; Age
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/53.6.1493

Recalled body weight and self-reported current weight were validated in a longitudinal study population by comparing recalls at 50 y to actual measures taken at ages 18, 30, 40, and 50 y. Recalled body weights were also compared with reported desired weights at these same ages. Self-reported weights at 50 y were equally accurate for both males and females; the mean reporting underestimate was −1.98 kg for males and − 1.86 kg for females. Males' self reports at age 50 y were influenced by years of education (P < 0.005) and current body size (P < 0.0001 ) whereas females' were not. Correlations between recall of past weights and measured weights ranged from r = 0.87 at 18 y to 0.95 at 40 y. Recalls of past body weight were not significantly influenced by the passage of time, the number of years of education, or the accuracy of current weight reports. Current body size (wt/ht2) was significantly associated with lifetime weight dissatisfaction in both sexes (P < 0.0005).