The usefulness of “corrected” body mass index vs. self-reported body mass index: comparing the population distributions, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive utility of three correction equations using Canadian population-based data

摘要: National data on body mass index (BMI), computed from self-reported height and weight, is readily available for many populations including the Canadian population. Because weight found to be systematically under-reported, it has been proposed that bias in BMI can corrected using equations derived sets which include both measured weight. Such correction have developed adopted. We aim evaluate usefulness (i.e., distributional similarity; sensitivity specificity; predictive utility vis-a-vis disease outcomes) of existing new population-based research. The Community Health Surveys 2005 2008 values allows construction evaluation equations. focused adults age 18–65, compared three (two correcting only, one BMI) against BMI. first population distributions Second, we specificity Third, terms association with health outcomes logistic regression. All corrections outperformed self-report when estimating full distribution; weight-only BMI-only females 23–28 kg/m2 range. In sensitivity/specificity, obesity prevalence, (from any equation) were superior self-report. modelling BMI-disease outcome associations, findings mixed, no proving consistently If researchers are interested distribution BMI, or prevalence a population, then kind included this study recommended. researcher as predictor variable disease, result biased estimates association.