Validity of self-reported height and weight in elderly Poles

• Published in: Nutrition research and practice Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 319 - 327
• Main Authors: Niedzwiedzka, E., University of Warmia and Mazuryul, Sloneczna, Poland, DIugosz, A., University of Warmia and Mazuryul, Sloneczna, Poland, Wadolowska, L., University of Warmia and Mazuryul, Sloneczna, Poland
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 한국영양학회 01.06.2015; The Korean Nutrition Society and the Korean Society of Community Nutrition
• Subjects: ALTURA; Elderly people,self-reported,BMI; HAUTEUR; HEIGHT; Original Research; PESO; POIDS; WEIGHT; 생활과학; Elderly people; self-reported; weight; height; BMI
• ISSN: 1976-1457; 2005-6168
• DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2015.9.3.319

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In nutritional epidemiology, collecting self-reported respondent height and weight is a simpler procedure of data collection than taking measurements. The aim of this study was to compare self-reported and measured height and weight and to evaluate the possibility of using self-reported estimates in the assessment of nutritional status of elderly Poles aged 65 + years. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The research was carried out in elderly Poles aged 65 + years. Respondents were chosen using a quota sampling. The total sample numbered 394 participants and the sub-sample involved 102 participants. Self-reported weight (non-corrected self-reported weight; non-cSrW) and height estimates (non-corrected self-reported height; non-cSrH) were collected. The measurements of weight (measured weight; mW) and height (measured height; mH) were taken. Using multiple regression equations, the corrected self-reported weight (cSrW) and height (cSrH) estimates were calculated. RESULTS: Non-cSrH was higher than mH in men on average by 2.4 cm and in women on average by 2.3 cm. In comparison to mW, non-cSrW was higher in men on average by 0.7 kg, while in women no significant difference was found (mean difference of 0.4 kg). In comparison to mBMI, non-cSrBMI was lower on average by 0.6 kg/m2 in men and 0.7 kg/m2 in women. No differences were observed in overweight and obesity incidence when determined by mBMI (68% and 19%, respectively), non-cSrBMI (62% and 14%, respectively), cSrBMI (70% and 22%, respectively) and pcSrBMI (67% and 18%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Since the results showed that the estimated self-reported heights, weights and BMI were accurate, the assessment of overweight and obesity incidence was accurate as well. The use of self-reported height and weight in the nutritional status assessment of elderly Poles on a population level is therefore recommended. On an individual level, the use of regression equations is recommended to correct self-reported height, particularly in women.