Measurement accuracy and reliability of self-reported versus measured weight and height among adults in Malaysia: Findings from a nationwide blood pressure screening programme

Chia, Yook Chin * and Ching, S. M. and Ooi, Pei Boon * and Beh, H. C. and Chew, Ming Tsuey * and Chung, Felicia Fei Lei * and Navin, Kumar and Lim, Hooi Min (2023) Measurement accuracy and reliability of self-reported versus measured weight and height among adults in Malaysia: Findings from a nationwide blood pressure screening programme. PLOS ONE, 18 (1). ISSN 1932-6203

[img]
Preview
Text
30.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (1MB) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0280483

Abstract

Most studies reporting prevalence of obesity use actual weight and height measurements. Self-reported weight and height have been used in epidemiological studies as they have been shown to be reliable, convenient, and inexpensive alternatives to actual measurements. However, the accuracy of self-reported weight and height might vary in different regions because of the difference in health awareness and social influences. This study aims to determine the accuracy and reliability of self-reported weight and height compared to actual measured weight and height among adults in Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the community level during blood pressure screening campaigns. Participants self-reported their weight and height in a questionnaire survey. Their weight and height were validated using measurements by researchers on the same setting. Body mass index (BMI) was defined as underweight (<18.5kg/m2), normal (18.5–22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23–27.4 kg/m2) and obesity (≥27.5 kg/m2). Bland-Altman analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients and weighted Kappa statistics were used to assess the degree of agreement between self-reported and measured weight and height. A total of 2781 participants were recruited in this study. The difference between the mean self-reported and measured weight and height were 0.4 kg and 0.4 cm respectively. Weighted Kappa statistics analysis showed that there was a substantial agreement between the BMI classifications derived from self-reported and actual measurement (ҡ = 0.920, p<0.001). There was no marked difference in the sensitivity and specificity of self-reported BMI among Malaysian adults by gender. We observed substantial agreement between self-reported and measured body weight and height within a sample of Malaysian adults. While self-reported body weight showed weaker agreement with actual measurements particularly for obese and overweight individuals, BMI values derived from self-reported weight and height were accurate for 88.53% of the participants. We thus conclude that self-reported height and weight measures may be useful for tracking and estimating population trends amongst Malaysian adults.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Others > Non Sunway Academics
Sunway University > School of Engineering and Technology [formerly School of Science and Technology until 2020] > Research Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies [merged with Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilization wef December 2023]
Sunway University > School of Medical and Life Sciences [formerly School of Healthcare and Medical Sciences until 2020] > Department of Medical Sciences
Depositing User: Ms Yong Yee Chan
Related URLs:
Date Deposited: 16 Jun 2023 02:53
Last Modified: 16 Jun 2023 02:53
URI: http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/id/eprint/2252

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item