Correction Equations to Adjust Self-Reported Height and Weight for Obesity Estimates Among College Students

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to generate correction equations for self-reported height and weight quartiles and to test the accuracy of the body mass index (BMI) classification based on corrected self-reported height and weight among 739 male and 434 female college students. The BMIqc (from height and weight quartile-specific, corrected self-reported measurements) provided a more accurate estimation of BMI classification than BMIc (from corrected self-reported measurements) and BMIs (from self-reported measurements) by showing a greater ability to predict cases with either a high or a low BMI category while still maintaining a high specificity. However, the equations are applicable only to Caucasian college student populations, so cross-validation in similar populations is needed before they are used more broadly.

Key words:

• health surveys
• reliability
• validity

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gary Liguori

This research was supported by North Dakota State University. Please address correspondence concerning this article to Gary Liguori, Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Dept. #2620, PO Box 5060, Fargo, ND 58108-5060.