SELF-REPORTED VERSUS MEASURED WEIGHT AND HEIGHT IN AN OLDER ADULT MEAL PROGRAM POPULATION

Background. Self-reported weight and height are used to compute ponder al indices in studies where it is impractical to obtain objectively me asured data. Little is known about the associations between self-repor ted and measured weight and height in older adults. Methods. Participa nts in congregate and home-delivered meal programs in a rural Wisconsi n county recorded their height and weight on a questionnaire as part o f a study on nutritional risk and quality of life. Objective measureme nts of height and weight were made on the same day. Data for 131 subje cts, ranging in age from 62-92 years, were analyzed to evaluate associ ations between self-reported and measured weights and heights. Results . Correlation coefficients between self-reported and measured values s uggested that self-reported weight was somewhat more valid than self-r eported height in this population. However, self-reported weight was m isreported by 10 pounds or more in 20% of the sample. Conclusions. Mor e data are needed to evaluate the utility of self-reported data for we ight and height in groups of older people. Judging from this study, se lf-reported height and weight data, if used at all for older adults, s hould only be used as it continuous variable rather than for classifyi ng subjects into relative weight categories.