The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39808

Soo-Kyung Lee, PhD, RD, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, 26 Nichol Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901-2882, 732-932-2766, sklee@aesop.rutgers.edu

Validity of self-reported weight and height is important because of their wide usage. However, validity of self-reported weight and height in immigrant populations has not been studied. This study investigated validity of self-reported weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) in multiethnic native and non-native adults using NHANES III. Native adults were individuals born in the U.S., while non-native adults were those born outside the U.S. Small size prevented using “other” ethnicity, leaving non-Hispanic-white, non-Hispanic-black, and Mexican-American. Body weight status was categorized with measured BMIs, as underweight (<20), normal (20 – 25), overweight (25-30), and obese (>30). Accuracy was assessed by subtracting self-reported from measured: dWT, dHT, and dBMI. Regardless of ethnicity and place of birth, men had positive dWT , dHT, and dBMI, while women had positive dWT, dBMI and negative dHT, dWT showed a strong positive relationship with measured BMI across ethnicity and place of birth. These differences by body weight status, ethnicity, and place of birth persisted after controlling for age, education, income, marital status, and working status. Discrepancy between self-reported BMIs and measured BMIs was more related to body weight than ethnicity and place of birth. Underweight men had the worse degree of discrepancy with only about 40% accuracy. Otherwise, approximately 70~80% of individuals were categorized to the same body weight status with measured BMI and with self-reported BMI. These results indicate self-reported information should be used with consideration. Not only self-reported information from overweight women, but self-reported information from underweight men should be given more attention.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe pattern of validity of self-reported weight and height by ethnic group and place of birth
• Recognize consequences in body weight status categories from self-reported weight and height

Keywords: Immigrants, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.