Validity of self-reported body mass index among middle-aged participants in the Norwegian Women and Cancer study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Body mass index (BMI) based on self-reported height and weight has been criticized as being biased because of an observed tendency for overweight and obese people to overestimate height and underestimate weight, resulting in higher misclassification for these groups. We examined the validity of BMI based on self-reported values in a sample of Norwegian women aged 44-64 years.

Methods

The study sample of 1,837 participants in the Norwegian Women and Cancer study self-reported height and weight, and then, within 1 year, either self-reported anthropometric again, or were measured by medical staff. Demographic and anthropometric were compared using t-tests and chi-square tests of independence. Misclassification of BMI categories was assessed by weighted Cohen's kappa

SUBMITTER: Skeie G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4493970 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature