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Validity of Self-Reported Body Mass, Height, and Body Mass Index in Female Students: The Role of Physical Activity Level, Menstrual Cycle Phase, and Time of Day.

  • Kintziou E Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece. ekintziou@teiath.gr.
  • Nikolaidis PT Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece. pademil@hotmail.com.
  • Kefala V Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece. valiakef@teiath.gr.
  • Rosemann T Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland. Thomas.Rosemann@usz.ch.
  • Knechtle B Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland. beat.knechtle@hispeed.ch.
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  • 2019-04-17
Published in:
  • International journal of environmental research and public health. - 2019
MET
anthropometry
questionnaire
survey
vigorous exercise
Adolescent
Adult
Anthropometry
Body Height
Body Image
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Exercise
Female
Humans
Menstrual Cycle
Self Report
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
English A large part of research using questionnaires for female university students relies on self-reported body mass, height, and body mass index (BMI) data; however, the validity of these data in this population group is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the validity of self-reported body mass, height, and BMI in female students. Female students of biomedical sciences (n = 93, age 21.8 ± 4.7 years, height 1.63 ± 0.06 m, weight 60.5 ± 11.9 kg, and BMI 22.7 ± 3.8 kg/m²) completed the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and were tested for anthropometric characteristics at three different times of the day (12-2 p.m., n = 36; 2-4 p.m., n = 20; 4-6 p.m., n = 37). Participants over-reported height (+0.01 ± 0.02 m, +0.9 ± 1.2%, Cohen's d = 0.22) and under-reported weight (-0.8 ± 2.1 kg, -1.2 ± 3.6%, d = -0.07) and BMI (-0.7 ± 1.0 kg/m², -2.9 ± 4.2%, d = -0.19) (p < 0.001). A moderate main effect of time of day on %Δweight (p = 0.017, η² = 0.086) and %ΔBMI (p = 0.045, η² = 0.067), but not on %Δheight (p = 0.952, η² = 0.001), was observed, where the group tested at 4-6 p.m. under-reported weight and BMI more than the 2-4 p.m. group. The weekly metabolic equivalent (MET) × min did not correlate with %Δheight (r = 0.06, p = 0.657), but its correlations with %Δweight (r = -0.27, p = 0.051) and %ΔBMI (r = -0.238, p = 0.089) reached statistical significance. Participants in the early follicular phase reported BMI more accurately (p = 0.084, d = 0.68) than those in the mid-luteal phase. In conclusion, female students over-reported height and under-reported weight and BMI. Under-reporting weight and BMI is influenced by time of day and menstrual cycle phase. These findings should be considered by health professionals and researchers when administering questionnaires to female students.
Language
  • English
Open access status
gold
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Persistent URL
https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/251113
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