How accurate are self-reported height and weight in the seriously mentally ill?

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2017-11, Vol.257, p.51-55
• Main Authors: Zhou, Elton K., Kosir, Urska, Kucukgoncu, Suat, Reutenauer Sullivan, Erin L., Tek, Cenk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antipsychotic; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Data Accuracy; Female; Humans; Male; Mentally Ill Persons - psychology; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - psychology; Overweight; Reproducibility of Results; Self Report
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.015

Aims: (1) Determine the accuracy of self-reported height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) calculated from those values in a population suffering from both serious mental illness (SMI) and overweight/obesity; (2) identify any associations that may predict error in self-reported measurements. Data were collected from screening appointments for two clinical trials for adult patients with SMI and overweight/obesity (BMI > 28) who gained weight while on antipsychotic medications. Both studies were conducted at the same urban community mental health center. Differences in self-reported and measured height, weight, and BMI were calculated. Analysis included age, sex, race, psychiatric diagnosis, and level of education. BMI calculated from self-reported height and weight were significantly lower (−0.47kg/m2) than measured values. Height was significantly overestimated (1.04cm), while weight was underestimated (0.055kg). Men underestimated BMI more than women (0.55 vs. 0.41kg/m2). Increasing age correlated with lower accuracy of self-reported height and BMI. No differences due to psychiatric diagnosis, race, or education were found. BMI calculated from self-reported height and weight from patients with SMI and overweight/obesity is as accurate as the self-reported measurements collected from the general population and, while measurement is best, self-reports can be used as a tool for screening for obesity. •Self-reported and measured height and weight were collected from patients with SMI.•Patients had lower BMI from self-reported values compared to measured BMI.•Height was overestimated, while weight was underestimated.•The accuracy of self-reported BMI is similar to that of the general population.•The accuracy of self-reported values did not differ based on psychiatric diagnosis.