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Accuracy of self-reported height, weight, and waist circumference in poor, rural areas of China.

Author information

Affiliations

  • 1. Anhui Medical University Affiliated Lu'an Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention/Lu'an Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lu'an, Anhui, China.
      Authors
    • Cao H 1
    • Zhang J 1
    • Wang Q 1
    • Xie S 1
    • Li K 1
    (5 authors)
  • 2. Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
      Authors
    • Zhang Z 2
    • Shen T 2
    (2 authors)
  • 3. Jinzhai County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinzhai, Anhui, China.
      Authors
    • Yu L 3
    • Zhang LB 3
    (2 authors)
  • 4. Jinzhai County Health and Family Planning Commission, Jinzhai, Anhui, China.
      Authors
    • Fu H 4
    (1 author)
  • 5. Department of Clinical Nutrition, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
      Authors
    • Li X 5
    (1 author)

Peerj, 15 Nov 2024, 12:e18525
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18525 PMID: 39559332 

Abstract 

Objectives

There are differing opinions and findings about the accuracy of self-reported data. This study sought to assess the accuracy of self-reported height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) data among adult residents in poor, rural areas of China.

Methods

Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to sample rural adult residents in Jinzhai County. Intraclass correlations (ICCs), Bland-Altman plots with limits of agreements (LOAs), and Cohen's kappa were used to examine the accuracy of self-reported data. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the effect of demographic and socioeconomic variables.

Results

Height was over-reported by an average of 0.67 cm, weight and WC were both under-reported, by an average of 0.004 kg and 1.09 cm, respectively. The ICC for height was 0.92, the ICC for weight was 0.93, and the ICC for WC was 0.93. Bland-Altman plots showed no trend in variability with increasing height, weight, and WC, but 95% of the LOAs were wide, especially for WC. The percentage agreement (kappa) for BMI was 82.10% (0.71), and the percentage agreement for WC was 83.56% (0.66). Overall, obesity, overweight, and increased WC were underestimated by 0.56%, 2.64%, and 6.89%, respectively. Assessments of which demographic and socioeconomic factors were associated with statistically significant differences between self-reported and measured data showed that education (junior school vs. primary or below: β = -0.56, 95% CI [-1.01 to -0.11]) and occupation (others vs. professionals: β = 2.16, 95% CI [0.62-3.70]) were associated with differences between measured and self-reported height; occupation (industrial and commercial service vs. professionals: β = 1.57, 95% CI [0.52-2.61]) was associated with differences between measured and self-reported weight; and gender (women vs. men: β = -1.74, 95% CI [-2.51 to -0.97]) and age (60- vs. 18-44: β = -1.62, 95% CI [-2.88 to -0.36]) were associated with differences between measured and self-reported WC.

Conclusions

Self-reported height and weight were shown to be reliable in poor, rural areas of China, but self-reported WC should be used with caution. To improve the accuracy of self-reported data, certain subgroups should be targeted for educational interventions.

Full text links 

Read article at publisher's site: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18525