SELF-REPORTED WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE COMPARED WITH THE WAIST WATCHER TAPE-MEASURE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS AT INCREASED HEALTH RISK THROUGH INTRAABDOMINAL FAT ACCUMULATION

We evaluated the accuracy of self-reported home-assessed and self-meas ured waist circumference in 101 men and eighty-three women aged 28-67 years. The main outcome measures were subjects' self-reported and self -measured waist circumference, and self-classification according to th e previously defined waist action level 1 (940 mm in men, 800 mm in wo men) and action level 2 (1020 mm in men, 880 mm in women), and waist c ircumference measured by the investigator using the 'Waist Watcher' ta pe-measure, as the reference method. The mean errors (95 % CI limits o f agreement) for subjects' self-reported waist circumference (self-rep orted minus reference; mm) were -67 (95 % CI -210, 77) in men and -43 (95 % CI -211,123) in women, and for self-measured waist circumference (mm) using the 'Waist Watcher' (self-measured minus reference) were - 5 (95 % CI -62, 52) in men and -43 (95 % CI -50, 42) in women. The pro portions of subjects classified into waist action level 1 or action le vel 2 by the investigator were used as the reference method. Self-repo rted waist circumference of men and women respectively would be classi fied correctly in different categories based on action level 1 with se nsitivities of 58.3 and 78.7 %, and specificities of 92.5 and 91.7 %, and action level 2 with sensitivities of 35.3 and 44.9 %, and specific ities of 98.5 and 90.7 %. Using the 'Waist Watcher' with different col our bands based on the action levels, male and female subjects respect ively classified themselves into correct categories according to actio n level 1 with sensitivities of 100 and 95.7 %, and specificities of 9 5 1 and 97.2 %, and according to action level 2 with sensitivities of 97.1 and 100 %, and specificities of 100 % for both sexes. Only 2 % of the sample misclassified themselves into the wrong categories accordi ng to waist circumference action levels. In conclusion, people tend to underestimate their waist circumference, but the 'Waist Watcher' tape -measure offers advantages over self-reported home-assessed measuremen t, and may be used as a screening tool for self-classifying the risk o f ill health through intra-abdominal fat accumulation.