GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE ACCURACY OF SELF-REPORTED WEIGHT

To investigate gender as a possible moderator of the validity of self- reported weight data in studies of body image and eating disorders, th e discrepancies between reported weights and actual weights were exami ned in a sample of 186 college students, 90 males and 96 females. Nine ty-four percent of the students were Anglo-American, and 6% were Afric an-American, Asian-American, or Hispanic. In comparison to male studen ts, female students underreported their weight to a significantly grea ter degree. Generally, use of self-reported weight, rather than actual weight, would result in more subjects classified as normal weight or underweight and fewer classified as overweight, using standard methods of classifying individuals into weight categories. And consistent wit h previous research, normal-weight females perceived themselves as ove rweight while normal-weight males were -more likely to perceive themse lves as underweight. Implications for further research on gender diffe rences in eating problems and body image are discussed.