Holly Beard, MPA¹, M. Yvonne Jackson, PhD², and Stacey B. Plichta, ScD¹. (1) College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, 129 Spong Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529, (757)683-4256, hbear001@odu.edu, (2) DHHS, Administration on Aging, 1 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington DC, DC 20001

Objective: This study examines the accuracy of self-reported heights and weights among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Elderly Nutrition Program participants. Self-reported information is questionable because people may not recall accurately, misreport, or use information from many years prior. Few studies have examined the validity of self-reported height-weight among the elderly or AIs/ANs.

Methods: Data from the National Evaluation of the Elderly Nutrition Program 1993-1995, which includes both home delivered and congregate meal participants is employed in this study. Self-reported and measured heights and weights were collected on 399 AI/AN participants, age 50 and older, participating in the Elderly Nutrition Program. The average age was 70.3 years, 65 % were female, 40% were widowed, and 55% had not completed high school.

Results: A significant difference was found between self-reported and measured height-weight measures with 35% inaccurately reporting their weight within 5 pounds and 21% incorrectly reporting their height within one inch. Those over the age of 70 were more likely to misreport their height. No relationship was found between gender, educational attainment, and location of meal and misreporting weight.

Conclusions: Caution should be used when relying on self-report height-weight information among older individuals since the information may be inaccurate. To increase the validity of evaluations of older populations, objective measures of height and weight should be obtained.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the difference between self-reported and measured height-weight information from Elderly Nutrition Program participants.
• 2. Recognize the importance of accurate height-weight measures in an American Indian/Alaskan Native elderly population.

Keywords: Nutrition, American Indians

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.