Original article
The reliability and validity of self-reported weight and height

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Abstract

The reliability and validity of measures of self-reported weight and height are analyzed by using data on 3373 people 14–61 yr of age. Results indicate that these measures are remarkably accurate indicators of actual weight and height. The measures are valid and reliable, even in groups of people for whom one might expect the data to be of a poorer quality, such as those who are severely overweight. Nevertheless, there are some group differences in reliability and validity that may be important in some types of studies.

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Cited by (0)

The Research reported herein was performed pursuant to the Health Insurance Study, a grant from U.S. Department of Health, and Human Services, Washington, DC. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and should not be construed as representing the opinions or policy of any agency of the United States Government.

A summary of this paper was presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting in Detroit, October 1980.

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