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Journal ArticleDOI

Comparison of self-reported and measured height and weight

01 Feb 1982-American Journal of Epidemiology (Oxford University Press)-Vol. 115, Iss: 2, pp 223-230
TL;DR: Screening data from the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program in Minneapolis, MN, 1973-1974 provided an opportunity to evaluate the accuracy of self-report of height and weight, and it was found that both were reported, on the average, with small but systematic errors.
Abstract: Screening data from the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program in Minneapolis, MN, 1973-1974, provided an opportunity to evaluate the accuracy of self-report of height and weight. It was found that both were reported, on the average, with small but systematic errors. Large errors were found in certain population subgroups. Also, men and women differed somewhat in their pattern of misreporting. Weight was understated by 1.6% by men and 3.1% by women, whereas height was overstated by 1.3% by men and 0.6% by women. As in previous studies, it was found that the most important correlates of the amount of error were the actual measurements of height and weight. An interesting finding was that misreporting of both height and weight in men was correlated with both aspects of body size, whereas for women, it was related mainly to the characteristic in question. Certain other demographic variables, such as age and educational level, were also found to have some importance as factors influencing misreporting.
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Current patterns of overweight and obesity in the United States could account for 14 percent of all deaths from cancer in men and 20 percent of those in women, and increased body weight was associated with increased death rates for all cancers combined and for cancers at multiple specific sites.
Abstract: background The influence of excess body weight on the risk of death from cancer has not been fully characterized. methods In a prospectively studied population of more than 900,000 U.S. adults (404,576 men and 495,477 women) who were free of cancer at enrollment in 1982, there were 57,145 deaths from cancer during 16 years of follow-up. We examined the relation in men and women between the body-mass index in 1982 and the risk of death from all cancers and from cancers at individual sites, while controlling for other risk factors in multivariate proportional-hazards models. We calculated the proportion of all deaths from cancer that was attributable to overweight and obesity in the U.S. population on the basis of risk estimates from the current study and national estimates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S. adult population. results The heaviest members of this cohort (those with a body-mass index [the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of at least 40) had death rates from all cancers combined that were 52 percent higher (for men) and 62 percent higher (for women) than the rates in men and women of normal weight. For men, the relative risk of death was 1.52 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.13 to 2.05); for women, the relative risk was 1.62 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.40 to 1.87). In both men and women, body-mass index was also significantly associated with higher rates of death due to cancer of the esophagus, colon and rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and kidney; the same was true for death due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Significant trends of increasing risk with higher body-mass-index values were observed for death from cancers of the stomach and prostate in men and for death from cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, and ovary in women. On the basis of associations observed in this study, we estimate that current patterns of overweight and obesity in the United States could account for 14 percent of all deaths from cancer in men and 20 percent of those in women. conclusions Increased body weight was associated with increased death rates for all cancers combined and for cancers at multiple specific sites.

7,095 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 2003-JAMA
TL;DR: Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status, and increases in obesity and diabetes continue in both sexes, all ages, all races, all educational levels, and all smoking levels.
Abstract: Context Obesity and diabetes are increasing in the United States. Objective To estimate the prevalence of obesity and diabetes among US adults in 2001. Design, Setting, and Participants Random-digit telephone survey of 195 005 adults aged 18 years or older residing in all states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2001. Main Outcome Measures Body mass index, based on self-reported weight and height and self-reported diabetes. Results In 2001 the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30) was 20.9% vs 19.8% in 2000, an increase of 5.6%. The prevalence of diabetes increased to 7.9% vs 7.3% in 2000, an increase of 8.2%. The prevalence of BMI of 40 or higher in 2001 was 2.3%. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status. Compared with adults with normal weight, adults with a BMI of 40 or higher had an odds ratio (OR) of 7.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.39-8.50) for diagnosed diabetes, 6.38 (95% CI, 5.67-7.17) for high blood pressure, 1.88 (95% CI,1.67-2.13) for high cholesterol levels, 2.72 (95% CI, 2.38-3.12) for asthma, 4.41 (95% CI, 3.91-4.97) for arthritis, and 4.19 (95% CI, 3.68-4.76) for fair or poor health. Conclusions Increases in obesity and diabetes among US adults continue in both sexes, all ages, all races, all educational levels, and all smoking levels. Obesity is strongly associated with several major health risk factors.

5,790 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
12 Sep 2001-JAMA
TL;DR: The prevalence of obesity and diabetes continues to increase among US adults, and interventions are needed to improve physical activity and diet in communities nationwide.
Abstract: ContextRecent reports show that obesity and diabetes have increased in the United States in the past decade.ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and use of weight control strategies among US adults in 2000.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a random-digit telephone survey conducted in all states in 2000, with 184 450 adults aged 18 years or older.Main Outcome MeasuresBody mass index (BMI), calculated from self-reported weight and height; self-reported diabetes; prevalence of weight loss or maintenance attempts; and weight control strategies used.ResultsIn 2000, the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) was 19.8%, the prevalence of diabetes was 7.3%, and the prevalence of both combined was 2.9%. Mississippi had the highest rates of obesity (24.3%) and of diabetes (8.8%); Colorado had the lowest rate of obesity (13.8%); and Alaska had the lowest rate of diabetes (4.4%). Twenty-seven percent of US adults did not engage in any physical activity, and another 28.2% were not regularly active. Only 24.4% of US adults consumed fruits and vegetables 5 or more times daily. Among obese participants who had had a routine checkup during the past year, 42.8% had been advised by a health care professional to lose weight. Among participants trying to lose or maintain weight, 17.5% were following recommendations to eat fewer calories and increase physical activity to more than 150 min/wk.ConclusionsThe prevalence of obesity and diabetes continues to increase among US adults. Interventions are needed to improve physical activity and diet in communities nationwide.

2,779 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
27 Oct 1999-JAMA
TL;DR: Obesity continues to increase rapidly in the United States, and strategies and programs for weight maintenance as well as weight reduction must become a higher public health priority.
Abstract: ContextThe increasing prevalence of obesity is a major public health concern, since obesity is associated with several chronic diseases.ObjectiveTo monitor trends in state-specific data and to examine changes in the prevalence of obesity among adults.DesignCross-sectional random-digit telephone survey (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) of noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 years or older conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments from 1991 to 1998.SettingStates that participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.Main Outcome MeasuresBody mass index calculated from self-reported weight and height.ResultsThe prevalence of obesity (defined as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) increased from 12.0% in 1991 to 17.9% in 1998. A steady increase was observed in all states; in both sexes; across age groups, races, educational levels; and occurred regardless of smoking status. The greatest magnitude of increase was found in the following groups: 18- to 29-year-olds (7.1% to 12.1%), those with some college education (10.6% to 17.8%), and those of Hispanic ethnicity (11.6% to 20.8%). The magnitude of the increased prevalence varied by region (ranging from 31.9% for mid Atlantic to 67.2% for South Atlantic, the area with the greatest increases) and by state (ranging from 11.3% for Delaware to 101.8% for Georgia, the state with the greatest increases).ConclusionsObesity continues to increase rapidly in the United States. To alter this trend, strategies and programs for weight maintenance as well as weight reduction must become a higher public health priority.

2,164 citations


Cites background from "Comparison of self-reported and mea..."

  • ...Since overweight participants in selfreported studies tend to underestimate their weight and all participants tend to overestimate their height; true rates of obesity are likely underestimated.(15,16) Moreover, people without telephones are not surveyed through BRFSS, and such individuals are likely to be of lower socioeconomic status, a factor that is asTable 1....

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